– As Kimi Antonelli gets closer and closer to his first world championship title, Sebastian Vettel expects his record as the youngest Formula 1 world champion to be broken – and he is happy about it. Vettel said on the sidelines of his demonstration laps in the Ferrari F2002 in Monza that he would be “very happy” if Antonelli became the youngest Formula 1 world champion.
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Vettel set the current record in 2010 at the age of 23 years, four months, and eleven days. This beat the previous record held by Lewis Hamilton from 2008 by five and a half months.
Antonelli’s chances of winning the world championship this year are growing. After his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, the only 20-year-old now leads by 81 points over his main rival and Mercedes teammate George Russell.
“He is having an incredible year,” said Vettel. “There is this old saying that records are made to be broken. And he still has many years ahead of him to achieve that.”
“I am independent and happy for him because I know how much work goes into achieving something like this. And whoever wins in the end will have deserved it.”
Antonelli has already broken some of Vettel’s age records: The young Italian secured his first pole position and his first “hat trick” of pole position, victory, and fastest race lap this year at the age of 19. Vettel had set these records in 2008 and 2009 respectively, only at the age of 21. (Retrieve all statistics on Sebastian Vettel in the Formula 1 database!)
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How Antonelli deals with Vettel’s praise
Antonelli appreciates the support of his older colleague: “Seb is incredible. He is a friend and sends me messages after every race weekend, sometimes even before.”
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“It is great to receive so much appreciation from him. I really enjoy his messages. They definitely make a small difference when you go into a race weekend or afterwards.”
Which other Formula 1 records Antonelli already holds
Antonelli also holds the Formula 1 records as the youngest driver with the fastest race lap, as the youngest race leader, as the youngest world championship leader, and as the youngest driver with a “Grand Slam” – that is pole position, victory, fastest race lap, and leading every lap of the race. He took these records from Hamilton and Max Verstappen respectively.
Verstappen, on the other hand, still holds the records for the youngest Formula 1 driver, youngest points scorer, youngest podium finisher, and youngest Grand Prix winner.
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