A remarkable milestone has been achieved by Kimi Antonelli after officially securing the 2026 Formula 1 drivers' world championship at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. The sensational Italian driver delivered a stellar performance to finish in third place, mathematically wrapping up the title battle with four rounds still remaining in the season. This triumph cements his status as one of the most exciting and dominant young talents in the modern era of elite motorsport.
Immediately after the chequered flag dropped, an unforgettable and deeply emotional scene unfolded on the podium. Race winner Max Verstappen and runner-up Lewis Hamilton spontaneously hoisted the newly crowned champion onto their shoulders in a magnificent display of sportsmanship and mutual respect. The gesture instantly captivated fans worldwide and became the major talking point throughout the paddock.
Speaking on the Nu Silver Arrows radio show hosted by former F1 driver Anthony Davidson, Antonelli admitted that the gesture from two of the sport's most decorated legends left him completely overwhelmed. He revealed plans to frame the iconic photograph and display it permanently as one of the most cherished memories of his professional racing career.
"Yeah, it's surreal. I'm very grateful for all the opportunities that I have been given, and this moment, the moment on the podium, is one of those memories that will live forever," Antonelli expressed with profound gratitude.
"First of all, to see so much respect and appreciation from the two drivers who have made the history of the sport, and they're still doing so because they're still competing at the top and achieving incredible results. To see so much respect and appreciation, and for sure, what they did, picking me up on the podium, is a moment that I will always be grateful to them for as well, because it was also unexpected for me," he added.
The young Mercedes charger confessed that he was overcome with emotion the moment the two veteran champions lifted him up. For the newly minted world champion, the resulting photograph stands right alongside other career highlights such as his memorable home outing in Monza, transforming a simple race result into a timeless piece of racing history.
"Once they picked me up, I was just so happy and I got so emotional as well, because it was such a special moment for me. And definitely, that picture, I will frame it, as I said many times. I will frame it and put it on the wall because it's such a special memory and such a special moment that will always be remembered," he concluded.
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