Sebastian Vettel says he would be happy to see Kimi Antonelli take away his long-standing Formula 1 record as the sport’s youngest World Champion.Antonelli has put himself firmly in position to do exactly that. Victory in Madrid stretched the Mercedes driver’s Championship advantage over teammate George Russell to 81 points, with nine races still remaining.
The Italian has already spent 2026 rewriting Formula 1’s age-related record book. Between 19 and 20, Antonelli became the youngest polesitter, youngest Championship leader and one of the youngest drivers ever to dominate a title fight so early in his career.
Now Vettel’s 2010 benchmark is in sight. The German won his first World Championship with Red Bull aged 23 years, four months and 11 days, a record which has survived through the Verstappen era.
Antonelli, still only 20, would lower that mark comfortably if he converts his current advantage into the 2026 title.
Vettel: I’d be happy for Kimi
Vettel has no problem with Antonelli potentially taking the distinction away from him. The four-time World Champion instead views records as targets for the next generation.
He told Formula Passion said: “I would be very happy for him. He has had an incredible year. There is that old saying that records are made to be broken. He still has many years ahead of him to achieve it. I love this sport, so as a spectator I find it very exciting.
“I hope that the others will also return to assert themselves and fight for the top positions. I am an external observer and I am happy for him, because I know how much work goes into certain results; whoever wins, will have deserved it,” added Vettel.
Antonelli’s rise has already seen him erase several benchmarks previously associated with Verstappen, whose 2016 Spanish Grand Prix victory at 18 remains the record for Formula 1’s youngest race winner.
The bigger prize is now the Championship itself. Vettel’s record has stood since Abu Dhabi in 2010, but Antonelli has given himself a genuine opportunity to rewrite another line of Formula 1 history before his 21st birthday.