Kimi Antonelli is hailed as Italy's next Valentino Rossi after becoming F1's youngest ever world champion in Mexico

Kimi Antonelli, 20, beat Sebastian Vettel's record as the sport's youngest champion by three years and 66 days, finishing third in a chaotic Mexico City Grand Prix to clinch the title with four rounds still to spare. He fell ill before the weekend and missed Thursday's media day, yet held his nerve through a race where Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc clashed internally while battling for the lead.

Antonelli wept on the final lap, saying he 'lost two seconds because I was already crying' and couldn't see clearly through his tears.

Hamilton, who had taken pole, finished second behind Verstappen and was visibly furious, warning Ferrari they 'have to hold some serious talks behind the scenes.'

Mercedes deputy principal Bradley Lord compared Antonelli's potential global reach to Valentino Rossi, saying the Italian nation is 'more than able to take a hero to its heart.'