There is something magical, almost heretical, in what is happening. In an Italy where hearts usually beat in unison with the Red 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 ancient, almost suspicious maturity he has displayed in this second season in the big leagues. 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 thrilling records. He might 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: cooling holes have returned to the discs, 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: 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, its secrets, its geometries. At Brembo, they have listened to everyone, tailoring a custom braking system for each team, made to measure for those who must manage infernal temperatures and braking spaces 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 guarantees everyone, from the veteran to the rookie, the best possible way to challenge the limit.
Turning instead to Antonelli, here are his 5 main records that he has broken in Formula 1:
1 - Youngest driver to lead a GP for at least one lap
In his third F1 appearance, at the Japan GP 2025, Antonelli took the lead on lap 22 and remained there uninterrupted until lap 31: that day he was 18 years, 7 months, and 12 days old. In doing so, by just 3 days, he took the record of the youngest driver to lead a GP for at least one lap from Max Verstappen, a record the Dutchman had set at the Spain GP 2016.
2 - Youngest to achieve a fastest lap in a race
Also 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, staying just 74 thousandths behind him. In this instance as well, 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, during 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 history, breaking Sebastian Vettel's record, who achieved it at the Italian GP in 2008 with Toro Rosso equipped with Brembo calipers at 21 years, 2 months, and 11 days old.
4 - Youngest author of the hat-trick: pole, victory, and fastest lap
The weekend of March 14 and 15, 2026, in Shanghai, Antonelli came close to perfection: in addition to securing pole position, he also achieved victory, becoming the youngest author of a double in F1. Not satisfied, he also claimed the fastest lap, becoming, at 19 years, 6 months, and 19 days, the youngest author of the hat-trick. He shattered 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 overtook 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 Spanish GP in 2007, surpassed Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso in the standings: the Englishman was 22 years, 4 months, and 6 days old.
These are the records that Antonelli will no longer be able to break in Formula 1 and his position in the respective rankings:
3rd youngest to compete in a GP
Antonelli made his F1 debut at the Australian GP 2025, at 18 years 6 months and 19 days. Lance Stroll did better, debuting at the Australian GP 2017 at 18 years 4 months and 26 days, but most notably Max Verstappen made history at the Australian GP 2015, driving the 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 as he secured 7th place in the next round, the Malaysian GP 2015, at 17 years, 5 months, and 29 days after retiring in his debut.
3 - Third youngest on the podium
Antonelli climbed onto the podium for the first time at the Canadian GP 2025, where he finished 3rd, just one second behind the winner, at 18 years, 9 months, and 31 days old. He was beaten by Max Verstappen, who reached the podium at 18 years, 7 months, and 15 days at the Spanish GP 2016, and Lance Stroll, who reached the podium at 18 years, 7 months, and 27 days at the Azerbaijan GP 2017.
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 with 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 climbed to the top step of the podium for the first time at 19 years, 6 months, and 18 days, at the China GP 2026. Max Verstappen, however, triumphed at the Spain GP 2016, debuting with Red Bull, also equipped with Brembo systems, at 18 years, 7 months, and 15 days.
Finally, these are the records that Antonelli aims to break in Formula 1:
1 - Youngest winner of a Sprint
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 this was Oscar Piastri: during the Qatar GP 2023, he was only 22 years, 6 months, and 1 day old. Antonelli therefore has just under 3 years to break his record.
2 - Youngest winner of 3 consecutive GPs
Three drivers have won at least 3 consecutive GPs before turning 24: the record belongs to Sebastian Vettel, who claimed victory in the last 2 GPs of 2010, in Brazil and Abu Dhabi, and the first GP of 2011, in Australia. When he won in Melbourne, he was 23 years, 8 months, and 24 days old, breaking Fernando Alonso's record by just 2 days.
3 - Youngest Grand Slam author
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 Slam. The youngest to do so was Max Verstappen at the Austrian GP 2021 at 23 years, 9 months, and 4 days. Antonelli therefore has 4 years to beat him.
4 - Italian with the most wins in F1
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 reached double digits: Alberto Ascari claimed 13 GPs from 1951 to 1953. Seven decades later, this record might finally fall.
5 - Youngest World Champion
In the third millennium, the age of world champions has significantly decreased: Fernando Alonso in 2005 became champion at 24 years, 1 month, and 27 days; Lewis Hamilton in 2008 at 23 years, 9 months, and 26 days; and Max Verstappen in 2021 at 24 years, 2 months, and 12 days. However, the record belongs to Sebastian Vettel, crowned in 2010 at 23 years, 4 months, and 11 days. To beat this record, Antonelli has until 2026, 2027, 2028, and even 2029. If he succeeds, he would become the first Italian Formula 1 World Champion with Brembo brakes.