Kimi Antonelli: Almost lost control on the final lap through sheer emotion

Shortly before the end of the Mexican Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli, on his way to the World Championship, nearly lost control of his Silver Arrow on the track due to his emotions

Following the Mexican Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest Formula 1 World Champion in history. A milestone that completely overwhelmed the 20-year-old even before he crossed the finish line on Sunday.

“On the final lap, I took my foot off the accelerator because I couldn’t see the track any more,” explained the newly crowned world champion after the race. At that point, Antonelli was in third place and already knew that his position would easily be enough to secure his first title.

“I got very emotional. And as I said, I had to ease off the throttle then, otherwise I’d have flown off the track. I was just trying to bring the car home safely.”

The Mercedes driver also emphasised: “I reckon I lost about two seconds there, because I was already in tears and couldn’t see a thing.” Through his tears, Antonelli could only just make out the two Ferraris.

“At that moment, all sorts of memories flashed through my mind,” explains the 20-year-old, reflecting on his final metres towards the title. “From karting right up to this moment. That was a truly special final lap.”

“As I crossed the finish line, I just had to let it all out, because I’d just fulfilled one of my biggest dreams ever. It was something truly special.”

Even if the young Mercedes driver had lost control of his Silver Arrow in the heat of the moment, Mexico would still have been able to celebrate the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history to date. Neither his team-mate George Russell nor Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton were in a position to prevent the world champion, born in 2006, from reaching this historic milestone.

To do so, either of them would have needed to win the Mexican Grand Prix. And even in that scenario, Antonelli would have been able to secure motor racing’s most prestigious title with a ninth-place finish.