Tearful Kimi Antonelli, 20, becomes youngest ever F1 world champion in Mexico and is hoisted aloft by Hamilton and Verstappen

Kimi Antonelli crossed the finish line in third place at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, clinching the F1 world title with four races still to spare and beating Sebastian Vettel's previous youngest-champion record by three years and 65 days. The Bologna-born 20-year-old admitted he began crying on the final lap, telling his team radio 'I think I lost two seconds because I could not see ahead.' Hamilton and Verstappen then lifted the new champion above their heads on the podium in a moment Antonelli said he would frame and put in his house.

Antonelli is the first Italian world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953 and Mercedes' first drivers' title since Hamilton won in 2020.

Verstappen won the race but congratulated Antonelli by praising his 'unbelievable job compared to his team-mate' — a pointed swipe at George Russell, who finished sixth after a penalty and a deployment failure.

Hamilton raged after a first-lap collision with Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc cost him the win, saying 'we have to hold some serious talks behind the scenes.'