Andrea Kimi Antonelli has made history by becoming the first teenager to lead the Formula 1 championship after his victory at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, March 29.
At 19 years, six months, and 28 days old, the Italian driver is now the youngest F1 championship leader, breaking the record previously set by Lewis Hamilton in 2007, who was 23 years, nine months, and 27 days at that time.
Moreover, Antonelli is the first teenager ever in Formula 1 to achieve multiple Grand Prix wins, following his consecutive victories in China and Japan.
After securing pole position in Saturday’s qualifying, he faced a tough start, falling from first to sixth place.
However, he made a strong comeback, dominating the latter part of the race at Suzuka.
A safety car, prompted by Haas driver Oliver Bearman’s serious crash, provided the Mercedes driver with a free pit stop, allowing him to regain his position and clinch victory.
“It’s premature to think about the championship, but we’re in a favorable situation,” said Antonelli, who expressed a need to analyze his start.
Coming in second was McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the top three at Suzuka.
Commenting on Antonelli’s youth, British commentator David Croft observed, “He might not be able to drink the champagne, but he’s savoring success right now,” during the podium celebrations.
Two weeks prior, Antonelli secured his inaugural F1 win in China, making him the second-youngest winner ever. The record still belongs to Max Verstappen, who was just 18 when he won in 2016. Antonelli also took pole in China, becoming the youngest driver to achieve that feat.
Despite some skepticism around Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff’s decision to bring him on board last season, Antonelli has begun to dispel critics in his second year.
Supporting his choice, Wolff stated, “We must shield him (Antonelli) from discussions about world championships.”
Antonelli currently leads the drivers’ standings with 72 points, followed by teammate George Russell at 63 and Charles Leclerc with 49.
Formula 1 will now enter a five-week hiatus, as the April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been canceled due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. The next race is set for May 3 in Miami.
