Antonelli wants to frame a photo with Hamilton and Verstappen for his home

Kimi Antonelli wants to frame a photo with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen and hang it at home. After winning the F1 title, the Mercedes driver sees the image as a treasured reminder, tied both to his achievement and to his respect for two major figures in the sport. “I will definitely frame the picture and put it on the wall of my house, so I can see it clearly whenever I go in,” he said.

The wish to preserve a special moment comes after a title triumph that, according to Motorsport.com, made Antonelli the youngest world champion in history at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The outlet says superlicence rules make the record difficult to break. Antonelli, however, did not approach the title as a mere formality to complete.

After his performance in Austin, Antonelli knew that the championship could seem almost settled. But he refused to treat the objective as already achieved. The young Italian admitted that nerves affected him more in Mexico than they had in Austin. He described a contrast between the two rounds: “At Austin, I was much more aggressive, much more present in the moment. Here in Mexico, in qualifying, I was a bit more tense and I wasn’t driving with the same intensity.” He added that this part of the weekend had not been easy, before he could finally enjoy the title and the rest of the season.

The tension did not end with qualifying. Antonelli said he carried it into the race, then gradually managed to let it go. He finished four seconds behind winner Max Verstappen and attributed the gap to the intensity of his final lap. “I couldn’t see the track anymore, so I backed off. I was emotional and told myself I had to slow down, otherwise I would crash. The important thing was to bring the car home,” he said.

At the finish, relief gave way to tears and memories. Antonelli said he could make out two Ferraris through his tears, while thoughts of his journey from karting to that moment passed through his mind. He also recalled the first song he heard after the race, which reminded him of his grandfather: “I think he would have been very proud.” The driver added that he had cried a lot but was glad to have done so, and said he had been emotional because of his grandfather while also feeling happy for him.

The support around him completed the day. “I wouldn’t be here without Mercedes, without my family; I’m very grateful for this moment,” Antonelli said. Toto Wolff declared: “This is Kimi Antonelli!” Verstappen, the Mexico winner, also said he was “very proud” of the Mercedes driver, praising an achievement that was especially impressive at such a young age. That respect, as much as the title itself, is what Antonelli wants to see on his wall.