Rinaldo ‘Dindo’ Capello believes Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s record as the youngest Formula 1 world champion could remain unbeaten forever. The three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner has praised the Mercedes driver’s extraordinary combination of talent, relentless work ethic and mental strength following his historic 2026 F1 title triumph at just 20 years old.
Antonelli has brought the Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championship back to Italy after a 73-year wait, becoming the youngest champion in the sport’s history. The Mercedes driver surpassed the previous record held by Sebastian Vettel, who claimed his first world title at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the age of 23.
Dindo Capello explains the qualities behind Kimi Antonelli’s historic F1 title
Among the current and former drivers celebrating Antonelli’s historic world championship victory in interviews with FormulaPassion.it is Rinaldo ‘Dindo’ Capello, an Audi endurance racing legend who won the Le Mans 24 Hours three times and the Sebring 12 Hours six times during his career.
Speaking exclusively to FormulaPassion.it, Capello explained why he believes the young Mercedes driver’s achievement is so exceptional.
“There are so many things that could be said about Kimi’s victory, but there’s a risk of stating the obvious,” Capello said. “So I’d rather highlight the reasons why Kimi has managed to achieve such an extraordinary result at just 20 years old and in only his second season in Formula 1, which is something completely out of the ordinary.
“I believe that, in Kimi’s case, several ingredients have come together which, as happens in other sports with other athletes, have created something explosive. That combination has produced a result that will go down in history, in the record books of our sport and beyond.”
For Capello, the Mercedes driver’s remarkable achievement is about much more than natural ability or the competitiveness of his machinery. He believes Antonelli’s determination and meticulous approach to preparation have been equally important.
“You have an incredibly competitive car, driven by someone with immense talent and an unbelievable desire to work hard. And perhaps that’s precisely what not everyone highlights: his willingness to work, the painstaking, almost obsessive method Kimi follows to achieve the result he’s aiming for, while being fully aware that he’s 20 years old and has achieved the dream he’s had ever since he completed his first lap in a go-kart.
“He has never forgotten that journey,” Capello emphasised, “and today he is on top of the world, having achieved the dream of so many drivers who start out as children and imagine that one day they might become Formula 1 drivers, and perhaps even world champions.
“But Antonelli has experienced all of this with the carefree attitude of a 20-year-old and, above all, the composure of a veteran. These are qualities that are rarely found together in one athlete, let alone qualities that complement each other so perfectly, as they have in Kimi’s case.”
Mercedes support and mental strength played a crucial role
Capello also highlighted the importance of the people surrounding Antonelli, including his family and Mercedes. He believes the team’s continued faith in the young Italian was particularly significant during the difficult moments of his first Formula 1 season.
“I don’t want to talk about the 73 years since the last Italian world championship or other statistics. I just want to highlight his determination, his willingness to work and his methodology.
“And then there was the support of the right people and his family,” Capello told FormulaPassion.it. “Because that’s a fundamental aspect. And by family, I also mean the Mercedes family, because they have always supported him without ever leaving him on his own. In fact, they supported him even more last year when he went through that small period of difficulty which, at 19 years old, could have been devastating for a young driver who perhaps wasn’t as mentally strong as Kimi.
“That was another demonstration of his superiority, not only technically but mentally as well.”
Antonelli’s relationship with Mercedes has been a defining part of his rise to the world championship. Following his title victory, Toto Wolff praised the young Italian’s achievement, while Antonelli’s father reflected on the moment he recognised his son’s world championship potential.
Why Dindo Capello believes Antonelli’s youngest F1 champion record will never be broken
Capello concluded by reflecting on the significance of Antonelli’s achievement for Italian motorsport and his belief that the youngest world champion record could stand indefinitely.
“When all these ingredients come together, they create something explosive,” Capello concluded. “And in Kimi’s case, I would even call it epic. I think it will remain in the record books of our sport forever.
“I think this record of being the youngest world champion ever will be very difficult to beat. Fittipaldi’s record already lasted for so many years, then came Vettel’s, and now the age has dropped even further.
“In my opinion, Kimi’s is a record that will remain unbeaten. So all I can say is that, as an Italian, I’m proud to have an Italian driver who has brought the world championship title back home, and I’m proud to be a friend of Kimi and his family.”
The achievement marks a historic moment for both Antonelli and Italian Formula 1, with the Mercedes driver having secured the championship in only his second season at the highest level. His victory has also prompted reflection on the scale of what he has accomplished at such a young age, including Antonelli’s own emotional reaction to becoming world champion.
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