He had promised that he would do his best "to raise the Italian flag" and he did it: Kimi Antonelli, third at the finish line in the Mexican GP, became Formula One world champion and brought the world title back to Italy 73 years after Ascari.

A historic feat for the 20-year-old Mercedes driver, who also broke the record for youngest world champion in Formula One history in a race that had promised to be an uphill battle after he contracted a high fever in recent days.

"Did I sleep last night?" he told reporters pre-race after arriving at the paddock hand in hand with his eleven-year-old sister Maggie. "It was the best night of the week. I collapsed in bed and slept a long, hard night because I was so tired."

Max Verstappen's Red Bull crossed the finish line first, ahead of Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari . Charles Leclerc's other Ferrari finished fourth.

Kimi Antonelli cries inside

"We did it. I wouldn't be here without Mercedes and my family. I'm grateful to them, " Kimi said. " It's been an incredible season , just as it's incredible and crazy to share the podium with champions like Hamilton and Verstappen. Thank you so much, Mexico."

The Bolognese prodigy's triumph was a foregone conclusion, arriving with four races remaining in a season dominated from the start by the German team's driver, despite a first year with the Silver Star that had seen him struggle greatly, prompting more than a few criticisms and second thoughts about his ability to race for a top team. This year, however, Antonelli has exceeded all expectations, stunning everyone with his driving style, dispels any doubts about his ability.

From the very first races, “Kimiferma” put all his rivals on the track to the test, from the most successful Hamilton and Verstappen to his most accredited teammate George Russell who had to surrender due to clear superiority.

A well-deserved World Championship thanks in part to the superiority of the Mercedes engine, as demonstrated at the temple of speed at Monza last September, when Antonelli managed to win from the back of the grid, sending even the Ferrari fans wild with joy, disappointed once again by the Reds' lacklustre performance in their home race.

Having grown up between Aci Team Italia and the Mercedes Academy, which decided to focus on him rather than Ferrari, Antonelli has demonstrated great maturity despite his young age, repeatedly receiving praise from Verstappen and seven-time world champion Hamilton. Compared to his more experienced teammate Russell, he was able to better interpret the qualities of his car, almost never making mistakes throughout the season and improving with each race, even in the starting stages—his Achilles heel at the start of the championship.

(Unioneonline)

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