There’s something magical, almost heretical, about what’s happening. In an Italy where hearts usually beat in unison for the Reds of Maranello, here comes a nineteen-year-old from Bologna to shake things up. Quietly, with a clean face and the look of someone who knows exactly where to place the wheels, Kimi Antonelli has won everyone over. It’s not just speed; it’s that old, almost suspicious maturity he’s displayed in this second season in the big league. A youngster who drives like a veteran, without making noise—except for the lap times.
In this snippet of 2026, the Mercedes talent has already signed off on a collection of spine-tingling records. He could take home even more by Christmas if things continue this way. Others, however, will remain locked away: unless he finds a DeLorean to go back in time and snatch them from those who carved them before him.
Its blossoming, however, is not an isolated case. It coincides with a Formula 1 that has changed its skin, a technical revolution that has tested even steel and carbon to their limits. Look at the brakes: the cooling holes on the discs have multiplied, dense as thoughts, while the monobloc calipers have become as light as feathers, yet more robust in their mounts and pistons.
In this new era, the Brembo Group has not just stood by and watched: it has taken center stage, acting as the common denominator among the eleven teams on the track. But don’t call it just a supplier. Brembo has become a solution provider, a desk mate sitting alongside the engineers of each team to co-design the soul of braking.
A task that has led to eleven different solutions, eleven scores played with millimetric precision. Because every single-seater has its own character, and every team has its own needs, secrets, and geometries. At Brembo, they have listened to everyone, tailoring a bespoke braking system for each team, designed to meet the needs of those who must manage infernal temperatures and braking distances that close in a heartbeat. It is the ability to offer the same absolute certainty underfoot, but expressed in eleven different languages: a technological democracy that ensures everyone, from the veteran to the rookie, the best possible way to challenge the limit.
Turning instead to Antonelli, these are his main records that he has broken in Formula 1:
1 - Youngest to lead a GP for at least one lap
In his third F1 appearance, at the 2025 Japanese GP, Antonelli took the lead on lap 22 and stayed there uninterrupted until lap 31: that day, he was 18 years, 7 months, and 12 days old. In doing so, he broke Max Verstappen's record for the youngest driver to lead a GP for at least one lap by just 3 days, a record the Dutchman had set at the 2016 Spanish GP.
2 - Youngest to achieve a fastest lap in a race
Still at Suzuka, on April 6, 2025, Antonelli set the fastest lap of the GP on the fourth-to-last lap of the race: on the final lap, Oscar Piastri came dangerously close to him, staying just 74 thousandths behind. In that instance too, Antonelli took the record from Max Verstappen, who had achieved the fastest lap at the 2016 Brazilian GP at 19 years, one month, and 14 days old.
3 - Youngest in pole position
In China, last March, at his 26th GP, Antonelli secured pole position with a 222-millisecond lead over teammate George Russell. At 19 years, 6 months, and 18 days old, he became the youngest poleman in F1, breaking Sebastian Vettel's record, who achieved it at the 2008 Italian GP with Toro Rosso equipped with Brembo calipers at 21 years, 2 months, and 11 days old.
4 - Youngest driver to achieve the hat-trick of pole position, victory, and fastest lap
On the weekend of March 14-15, 2026, in Shanghai, Antonelli came close to perfection: in addition to securing pole position, he also claimed victory, becoming the youngest driver to achieve a double in F1. Not satisfied, he also recorded the fastest lap, becoming, at 19 years, 6 months, and 19 days, the youngest driver to achieve a hat-trick. This surpassed Sebastian Vettel's record, who had achieved a hat-trick at 21 years, 11 months, and 18 days.
5 - Youngest to lead the World Championship
Thanks to the 25 points earned by winning the last Japanese GP, Antonelli has overtaken Russell in the championship standings, becoming the youngest ever to lead the World Championship at 19 years, 7 months, and 4 days. The previous record holder was Lewis Hamilton, who, with his 2nd place at the 2007 Spanish GP, surpassed Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso in the standings: the Englishman was 22 years, 4 months, and 6 days old.
6 - Youngest winner of 3 consecutive GPs
Before Antonelli, three drivers had won at least 3 GPs in a row before turning 24: the record was held by Sebastian Vettel, who claimed the last 2 GPs of 2010, in Brazil and Abu Dhabi, and the 1st of 2011, in Australia. When he won in Melbourne, he was 23 years, 8 months, and 24 days old. Kimi Antonelli, on the other hand, won this year in China, Japan, and Miami, completing the hat-trick at 19 years, 8 months, and 8 days old.
Here are the records that Antonelli will no longer be able to break in Formula 1 and his position in the respective rankings:
1 - Third youngest to compete in a GP
Antonelli made his F1 debut at the 2025 Australian GP, at 18 years, 6 months, and 19 days old. Lance Stroll did better, debuting at the 2017 Australian GP at 18 years, 4 months, and 26 days, but most notably Max Verstappen made history at the 2015 Australian GP, driving for Toro Rosso at the age of 17 years, 5 months, and 15 days.
2 - Second youngest to score points
Antonelli finished his first GP in fourth position, 10 seconds behind Lando Norris, thus earning his first points at 18 years, 6 months, and 19 days. Max Verstappen, however, did better because after retiring on debut, he secured 7th place in the next round, the 2015 Malaysian GP, at 17 years, 5 months, and 29 days.
3 - Third youngest on the podium
Antonelli stepped onto the podium for the first time at the 2025 Canadian GP, finishing 3rd, just one second behind the winner, at the age of 18 years, 9 months, and 31 days. He was surpassed by Max Verstappen, who reached the podium at 18 years, 7 months, and 15 days at the 2016 Spanish GP, and Lance Stroll, who did so at 18 years, 7 months, and 27 days at the 2017 Azerbaijan GP.
4 - Third youngest on the front row
Antonelli narrowly missed the front row in his sixth appearance, falling short at the Miami GP 2025 by just 2 thousandths. He claimed it for the first time at the Sao Paulo GP 2025, qualifying 2nd. However, the record belongs to Lance Stroll at 18 years, 10 months, and 5 days at the Italian GP 2017, 24 days younger than Max Verstappen at the Belgian GP 2016.
5 - Second youngest GP winner
Only 2 drivers have won a GP before turning 21: Antonelli claimed his first victory at 19 years, 6 months, and 18 days old, at the 2026 China GP. Max Verstappen, however, triumphed at the 2016 Spanish GP, on his Red Bull debut, also equipped with Brembo systems, at 18 years, 7 months, and 15 days old.
Finally, these are the records that Antonelli aims to break in Formula 1:
1 - Youngest Sprint winner
Of the 7 drivers who have won at least one Sprint, a format introduced only in 2021 with the British GP, the youngest to achieve it was Oscar Piastri: during the Qatar GP 2023, he was only 22 years, 6 months, and one day old. Antonelli therefore has just under 3 years to break his record.
2 - Youngest Grand Chelem achiever
In his career, Antonelli has not yet led an entire GP from start to finish. When he manages to do so in a GP where he also achieves pole position, victory, and fastest lap, he will accomplish a Grand Chelem. The youngest to do so was Max Verstappen at the Austrian GP 2021 at 23 years, 9 months, and 4 days old. Antonelli therefore has 4 years to beat him.
3 - Italian with the most F1 victories
Before Antonelli, the last Italian to win a GP was Giancarlo Fisichella at the Malaysian GP in 2006. In total, 16 Italian drivers have won a GP, but only one has reached double digits: Alberto Ascari claimed 13 GPs from 1951 to 1953. Seven decades later, this record might finally fall.
4 - Youngest World Champion
In the third millennium, the age of world champions has significantly decreased: Fernando Alonso became champion in 2005 at 24 years, 1 month, and 27 days old; Lewis Hamilton in 2008 at 23 years, 9 months, and 26 days old; and Max Verstappen in 2021 at 24 years, 2 months, and 12 days old. However, the record belongs to Sebastian Vettel, who claimed the title in 2010 at 23 years, 4 months, and 11 days old. Antonelli has the opportunity to break this record in 2026, 2027, 2028, or even 2029. If he succeeds, he would become the first Italian Formula 1 driver to win the world championship with Brembo brakes.