Vettel sends Antonelli a message after losing youngest-champion record
Sebastian Vettel has congratulated Kimi Antonelli in a video message after the Mercedes driver took his record as the youngest world champion. Vettel praised his clean driving and warned him to expect an overwhelming few days.
A message between two champions
Kimi Antonelli had barely left the Mexico City podium when a congratulation arrived from the man whose record he had just taken. Sebastian Vettel, the four-time world champion, sent the new champion a personal video message, released on behalf of the sport on Monday, according to Crash.net and RacingNews365.
Antonelli won the 2026 drivers' title at 20 years and 68 days, the reports say. Vettel was 23 years and 134 days old when he clinched his first championship with Red Bull in 2010, so the mark had stood for about 16 years. Antonelli beat it by more than three years.
What Vettel told him
Vettel opened with a few words of Italian, then said that few drivers get to win a title and that "nobody has done it as young as you". He called Antonelli's driving clean and controlled and praised his curiosity, his willingness to listen, how quickly he learns and his fearlessness.
The second half of the message was advice. Vettel recalled that his own first title felt overwhelming and that he did not sleep properly for days afterwards, and urged Antonelli to expect a period of intense attention. He added that the title does not hinge on one race: "It is never the one race that matters. It is all the races we do." He also predicted that Antonelli would soon feel the urge to race again, because there is still a race to win.
His closing thought was about perspective. Great achievements might change the way people look at you, Vettel said, but you do not have to change the way you look at people.
Why the record matters
Antonelli is also the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, according to the reports. He secured the crown in Mexico City with four races still to run, needing only a ninth-place finish and taking third instead.
By the numbers
Our race data shows how comfortable the season has been. After 19 of the season's rounds Antonelli leads the standings on 380 points, 119 ahead of Max Verstappen on 261. He has nine wins and 16 podium finishes in those 19 races.
The next race is the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on 8 November, the first time Antonelli will line up as champion. Vettel's advice, to be ready to race again soon, will not have to wait long to be tested.
