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Kimi Antonelli is in with a chance of becoming the youngest ever Formula 1 world champion in 2026, but who currently holds that record?
The 2026 season is only three races in, but the Mercedes driver has already had a record-breaking start to the year. F1 fans backed Antonelli to become the youngest polesitter this year, and he did just that in Shanghai.
Antonelli followed that up with his maiden Grand Prix win in China, before taking pole position and the win at the next round at Suzuka. With this, he now leads the championship over Mercedes teammate George Russell by nine points.
How the championship looks after Japan
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It is a small margin, but the 19-year-old is in with a serious chance of winning his maiden championship and Mercedes’ first since 2020.
No teenager has ever won the F1 title in history, but many young drivers have won it early in their careers over the years. Antonelli has the chance to usurp them all in 2026.
Sebastian Vettel surpassed Lewis Hamilton as F1’s youngest champion in 2010
Sebastian Vettel has held the record of the youngest F1 world champion for over 15 years. He surpassed Lewis Hamilton by winning the 2010 title over the Brit, Red Bull teammate Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso.
At 23 years and 134 days old, no one has come close to beating the German’s record since he clinched his first title. Vettel went on to win another three championships on the bounce, before Hamilton and the turbo-hybrid era brought an end to his dominance.
Vettel felt he did not enjoy the moment during his incredible run due to the relentless schedule in F1. Nevertheless, he still remains one of the greatest drivers the sport has ever seen.
| Pos. | Driver | Age | Year |
| 1 | Sebastian Vettel | 23 years, 134 days | 2010 |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | 23 years, 300 days | 2008 |
| 3 | Fernando Alonso | 24 years, 58 days | 2005 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | 24 years, 73 days | 2021 |
| 5 | Emerson Fittipaldi | 25 years, 273 days | 1972 |
| 6 | Michael Schumacher | 25 years, 314 days | 1994 |
| 7 | Lando Norris | 26 years, 24 days | 2025 |
| 8 | Niki Lauda | 26 years, 197 days | 1975 |
| 9 | Jacques Villeneuve | 26 years, 200 days | 1997 |
| 10 | Jim Clark | 27 years, 174 days | 1963 |
Vettel surpassed Hamilton by just 166 days, with the seven-time champion winning his first title in 2008. Alonso is third on the list, narrowly beating Max Verstappen, who clinched his first championship in the controversial 2021 season.
Emerson Fittipaldi and Michael Schumacher were both 25 years old when they became champions, while defending champion Lando Norris is the seventh-youngest winner of all time. Niki Lauda, Jacques Villeneuve and Jim Clark – the latest F1 champion on this list – complete the top 10.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Will Kimi Antonelli win the F1 title in 2026?
As aforementioned, the Italian is a serious title contender in 2026. With the Mercedes W17 being the dominant force thus far, Antonelli has what he needs to claim the championship.
Many people considered his teammate, Russell, to be the favourite for the title in 2026. That looked to be the case when he won in Australia, but since then, Antonelli has given him a real headache.
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Can they go 22/22?
The Brit finished off the podium at Suzuka as he struggled to find the right balance in the car. Meanwhile, his teammate flourished as he took a commanding victory in both China and Japan.
Mercedes now no longer see Russell as the favourite for the championship and now see Antonelli as a real threat. Whoever comes out on top will be the biggest question when racing returns in May.
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