Verstappen takes shot at Russell, Mercedes hails Antonelli as 'next Valentino Rossi' after youngest-ever champion crowned

Kimi Antonelli is being celebrated across motorsport following his Formula 1 drivers' championship victory, with Max Verstappen using his post-race message to take an apparent swipe at Antonelli's team-mate George Russell, and Mercedes comparing the 20-year-old to MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi — after the Italian became the youngest world champion in F1 history in Mexico City on Sunday.

Verstappen won the race and appeared to take a swipe at Antonelli's team-mate George Russell, crediting the Italian with doing an 'unbelievable job compared to his team-mate.'

Russell finished sixth after an 'unexpected lack of deployment' and a ten-second penalty for a collision with Isack Hadjar, and Mercedes subsequently released him from his post-race media obligations.

Mercedes deputy principal Bradley Lord suggested Italy might come to see Antonelli as a global ambassador in the same way MotoGP fans embraced Valentino Rossi, calling the achievement 'unprecedented in the history of the sport.'