Source : @F1
AUSTIN — Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli is closing in on one of Formula 1’s most celebrated records, with the sport reminding fans that Sebastian Vettel’s 16-year reign as the youngest world champion could end as early as this weekend’s United States Grand Prix.
Formula 1’s official X account posted a graphic on Tuesday (Oct 20) with the caption: “A record that has stood for 16 years is on the verge of being broken 👀”, alongside the hashtags #F1 and #USGP. Titled “Chasing the Record”, the image states that Vettel is the current youngest-ever champion, having won the 2010 title at 23 years and 134 days, and sets that against Antonelli’s age in 2026: “20 years, 56 days and counting…”
The Italian arrives at the Circuit of The Americas on 340 points, 102 clear of team-mate George Russell on 238, according to the official 2026 drivers’ standings. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton is third on 229, ahead of Max Verstappen on 221, Charles Leclerc on 215 and reigning champion Lando Norris on 201. Antonelli has led the championship since the third round in Japan.
Six Grands Prix remain and there are no further Sprint races, leaving a maximum of 150 points on offer. After Austin, the final five rounds in Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi will be worth 125 points. To be crowned on Sunday, Antonelli must win the race, while Russell must finish ninth or lower and Hamilton fifth or lower. All three conditions must be met, and a shortened race awarding reduced points could not settle the title on the current standings, according to Grandprix.com.
If he does it, Antonelli will be 20 years and 61 days old on race day, beating Vettel’s mark by more than three years. Vettel set the record when he clinched his first title at the 2010 season finale in Abu Dhabi. Even if the championship goes all the way to December’s scheduled finale, Antonelli would still take the record.
A title would also end a long wait for Italy. According to Motorsport.com, Antonelli would become the country’s first world champion since Alberto Ascari, who won in 1952 and 1953, and only the third Italian champion after Nino Farina in 1950 and Ascari. He would also be the first driver born in the 2000s to win the championship, and the first Italian champion not driving for an Italian team.
The 2026 season has already seen Antonelli collect several milestones. He became the youngest polesitter in Formula 1 history in China, taking another record from Vettel, became the youngest championship leader at the Japanese Grand Prix aged 19 years and 216 days, and became the first Italian to win at Monza in six decades.
Vettel, the four-time world champion, has said he would welcome the outcome. “I’d be very happy for him. He’s had an incredible year, and there’s the old phrase that records are there to be broken. He still has a lot of years ahead of him to do so,” he told Motorsport.com.
Mercedes cannot wrap up the constructors’ crown in Texas, despite leading Ferrari by 134 points. The United States Grand Prix runs from Oct 23 to 25, with the 56-lap race starting at 3pm local time on Sunday, which is 4am on Monday (Oct 26) in Malaysia. If the title is not settled, the fight moves on to Mexico City from Oct 30 to Nov 1. The original Formula 1 post can be viewed on X: https://x.com/F1/status/2112595953941430683.
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