Vettel blesses Antonelli's bid to strip him of F1's youngest champion record

Sebastian Vettel has given his blessing to Kimi Antonelli’s charge towards a maiden Formula 1 world title, saying he would be “very happy” to see the 20-year-old Mercedes driver claim his record as the sport’s youngest champion. Vettel set the benchmark in 2010 at 23 years, four months and 11 days old, surpassing Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 mark by five-and-a-half months.

Antonelli’s Spanish Grand Prix victory has stretched his advantage over team-mate George Russell to 81 points, making a first championship at just 20 years of age an increasingly realistic prospect.

“I’d be very happy for him,” Vettel said in Monza. “He had an incredible year. There’s the old phrase that records are there to be broken. He still has a lot of years ahead of him to do so. I love the sport, so as a spectator it’s very exciting. I’d wish for the others to come back and be more in the mix. I’m independent and happy for him because I know how much work there is behind it to achieve it, and whoever will win will deserve it as well.”

Antonelli has already rewritten several pages of the record books this season. The Italian clinched his maiden pole position and his first hat-trick at 19, feats Vettel himself did not achieve until he was 21, in 2008 and 2009. Antonelli also holds records as F1’s youngest fastest-lap scorer, race leader, championship leader and grand-chelem achiever, the latter two taken from Hamilton and Verstappen respectively.

The Mercedes driver spoke warmly of the support he has received from the four-time champion. “It’s great. Seb is incredible. He’s a friend of mine, always sends some messages after every race weekend or even before some of them. It’s great to see so much support from him and so much appreciation as well. Definitely, I’m very happy to get his messages, and for sure they make a little difference in going into the weekend or even after.”

Max Verstappen, meanwhile, retains records as the championship’s youngest driver, points scorer, podium finisher and race winner — milestones that remain beyond Antonelli’s reach regardless of how the title race concludes.