(Motorsport-Total.com) – Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli has taken the championship lead with his victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, securing a historic Formula 1 record: The 19-year-old Italian is now the youngest championship leader in the over 75-year history of the premier class.
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Antonelli takes the record from none other than his predecessor Lewis Hamilton: The Briton was 22 years, four months, and six days old when he took the championship lead for the first time after the 2007 Spanish Grand Prix, securing the previous record. (Photo gallery: The youngest record holders in Formula 1)
19 years later, Antonelli sets the new benchmark at the age of just 19 years, seven months, and four days. The Italian is thus almost three years younger than Hamilton and continues to expand his personal record tally: It is already the sixth age record in Formula 1 that he has secured.
Kimi Antonelli already holds six age records
Because the Mercedes youngster is already the youngest driver with a fastest race lap, the youngest driver with leading laps, and the youngest driver with a best time in qualifying. Furthermore, Antonelli is the youngest driver ever to start a Grand Prix from pole position.
The youngest record holders in Formula 1
And because Antonelli secured not only the race victory but also pole and the fastest race lap at the Chinese Grand Prix, he is also the youngest Formula 1 driver to achieve a hat-trick. This record was previously held by Sebastian Vettel.
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However, Antonelli was unable to break some benchmarks, including those for the youngest Grand Prix winner, the youngest driver in the points, or the youngest driver on the podium. All these records remain in the hands of Max Verstappen.
These two records Antonelli can still break
And yet, there are still more opportunities for the Mercedes youngster in the future: For example, in the course of his career, Antonelli could still crown himself the youngest Grand Slam winner, combining pole position, leading every race lap, fastest race lap, and race victory in one Grand Prix weekend.
This record also currently belongs to Verstappen, who was exactly 23 years, nine months, and four days old at the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix. Antonelli would therefore have until the end of May 2030 to achieve this feat and break another age record.
The Mercedes driver would have almost as much time to crown himself the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history: Vettel was exactly 23 years, four months, and eleven days old when he won his title in November 2010. If Antonelli were to win the title up to and including 2029, this record would also be broken.
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