Following his dominant victory in the United States last weekend, Kimi Antonelli only has to finish in the top nine of this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix to seal his first ever World Driver’s Championship in just his second season. The Italian’s triumph has been unexpected and dominant in equal measure, and this combination will lead to numerous records and landmarks needing to be updated following his probable stroll to the championship on Sunday. So what will the history books need to update?

Reigning World Champion – Lando Norris (2025)

Beginning with an obvious one, Norris’s time as the reigning champion is now guaranteed to end at some point this season, but it will likely be on Sunday as long as Antonelli can record a points finish and neither Russell or Hamilton secure victory.

Last driver to win the title with races to spare – Max Verstappen (2024)

It will also be the first time in two years that the title does not go to the wire, following last season’s three way showdown.

Last Mercedes World Champion – Lewis Hamilton (2020)

This weekend will also be the first time in six years that Mercedes clinch the crown, following their struggles in the ground effect era. Even if, by some miracle, Antonelli does not win the championship from this point, either Mercedes through Russell or Hamilton himself will end their respective streaks without a driver’s title.

Last World Championship sealed in Mexico – Lewis Hamilton (2018)

The last time the World Championship was sealed in Mexico was also by Mercedes and the aforementioned Hamilton, who did it back to back in 2017 and 2018. Coincidentally, Hamilton secured the 2017 championship in Mexico City with a 9th placed finish, the result that Antonelli requires to mathematically guarantee himself the crown.

Youngest World Champion – Sebastian Vettel (2010)

At the age of 23 years and 134 days, Sebastian Vettel became the youngest ever World Champion when he climbed from third to first in the standings at the final round in 2010. Antonelli, at the age of just 20 years and 68 days as of Sunday, would absolutely shatter this record, and therefore even if he missed out this season through an extraordinary turn of events, he will have three more years to take this record. Furthermore, legendary drivers such as Hamilton, Schumacher, Senna and Prost had not even made their F1 debuts at the age Antonelli is now, and only seventeen drivers in the history of the sport had even completed a Grand Prix at the age that Antonelli is set to claim his first championship.

Last person to win a Driver’s Championship in their second season – Lewis Hamilton (2008)

Discounting F1’s inaugural seasons in 1950 and 1951, no driver has ever won the world title in their rookie season, and only two had previously taken it in their second season; these being Jacques Villeneuve in 1997 and Lewis Hamilton in 2008. Antonelli will add his name to that list with a points finish on Sunday.

Last Mercedes academy driver to win a World Championship – Michael Schumacher (2004)

Whilst Mercedes as a works team did not exist in modern F1 until 2010, their young drivers program in many forms dates back decades. To date, it has only produced one World Champion, that being seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, who won his last title with Ferrari in 2004.

Last driver to win the World Championship with the number 12 – Ayrton Senna (1988)

Antonelli chose to adorn the number 12 on his car to pay tribute to his racing hero, Ayrton Senna, who won his first of three championships with the number on his McLaren. Therefore, it will be special for the Italian to secure his first championship with the number, and to be the first since Senna to do so.

Last time a World Champion had not won a race before their championship winning season – Keke Rosberg (1982)

Usually, drivers have to fight their way through multiple seasons on the periphery before they claim their first World Championship, taking a few wins along the way. Even the aforementioned Hamilton and Villeneuve, propelled into competitive cars immediately, took victories in their debut seasons. Antonelli, however, did not have a race victory to his name at the beginning of 2026, becoming the first driver since Keke Rosberg, 44 years ago, that had not won a race before their title winning season.

Last Italian World Driver’s Champion – Alberto Ascari (1953)

For such a decorated racing nation, with the most successful team in Ferrari, it is an incredible stat that there has not been an Italian driver’s champion since F1’s fourth season in 1953, when Alberto Ascari won his second and final title.

It seems likely that Antonelli will end the 73 year Italian wait in Mexico this weekend!