Andrea Kimi Antonelli is the Formula 1 world champion

They took turns leading the way along that interminably long, endless straight. Eleven world titles have become twelve. But not suddenly; they came at the end of a journey that began in March and concluded in glory on the first day of November. Verstappen’s four, Hamilton’s seven. And the first, marvellous, one for Andrea Kimi Antonelli. It was said in the run-up to the event that this Drivers’ World Championship lacked ‘drama’, given that Antonelli’s lead was enormous. Yet, Formula 1’s grand finale still gifted him a glorious conclusion, because ‘our’ lad really did fit perfectly on that podium.

At the end of a race that started twice, with the uncertainties of the first corner where the driver stuck to his plan. Or, in his own words, “to stay out of trouble”. From today, Lando Norris hands over his crown to someone who promises not to be a one-off winner, one of those who shine for just a single season. Like Nico Rosberg, on the track to interview the three on the podium. Just as so many other drivers have done, capable of becoming champions but unable to repeat their success. Kimi Antonelli, to set himself apart from them, obviously has his very young age on his side. But it’s not just that. He has a very strong team, solid leadership from a Team Principal like Toto Wolff and a clear dominance over his team-mate. These are all factors which, combined with enormous talent, provide sufficient assurance that we can count on him being in the running for many more titles.

Much has already been said about Kimi – practically everything. “He did well; we secured a fine podium finish,” said his father, without giving much vent to his emotions. And perhaps in these words – wise and free of rhetoric – one can understand much of the secret behind this son’s success. The family’s foundations appear solid, and every statement they make never seems contrived. Without class, no driver would ever become a champion simply by having a wonderful family by their side. But if you are that strong and, upon returning home, find the support that Marco and Veronica Antonelli have prepared for you, then this combination creates the conditions to ensure that no victory is a one-off. We should prepare ourselves to hear his name discussed for many years to come, confident that the combination of his talent and Mercedes’ managerial and industrial structure will act as an insurance policy against the – understandable – complacency that might cost him a few tenths of a second.

The significance of all this runs deep, dating back to when Toto saw something in him that was invisible to the rest of the talent scouts. But also to that day at Monza, in late August 2024, when the youngster, during a free practice session in which he was driving Lewis Hamilton’s car, crashed at the Parabolica. On that day, many people, understandably, had more than a few doubts. Mercedes had no such doubts; on the afternoon of that late-summer day, they told the world that the very same curly-haired lad who’d crashed into the barrier would become the team-mate of the seven-time world champion, who’d announced months earlier that he wanted to move to Ferrari. That day laid the definitive foundation for building something that had the potential to be a great story and which has since become a consistent and successful journey. In Mexico City, Verstappen finished ahead of Hamilton. Red Bull and Mercedes placed ahead of Mercedes. This suggests that performance was not solely down to the car. Of course, one might argue that Kimi could have played it safe and there would have been no point in challenging those two. Indeed, finishing behind them on this occasion was almost a tribute from the new King to the old monarchs. Almost a coded message, along the lines of: “Today I become World Champion, and you have been, up until now, far more so than I. And I’ll leave the top steps of the podium to you. But remember, the world is now mine; today you’re ahead of me and acting as my relay team. Now my young revolution has been completed. And nothing will ever be the same again.” Over the next few days we will learn exactly how many races remain until the end of the season. In the meantime, one thing is certain: the paddock is heading to Brazil this coming weekend. There, Kimi will be able to pay tribute to Ayrton Senna. He will continue to wear the number 12 on his livery in honour of the champion from São Paulo. A new chapter began yesterday, for motorsport and for our country. A country that continues to wait for Ferrari, and whilst enduring a twenty-year journey through the wilderness, is savouring the freshness of this prodigy of nature born in the land of motorsport.