Andrea Kimi Antonelli may already be the 2026 Formula 1 world champion, but the Mercedes driver has yet to receive the sport’s most prestigious trophy. The 20-year-old Italian will be presented with the official Drivers’ World Championship trophy at the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony on 12 December, although keeping a replica could reportedly cost him around €35,000.
The distinction is important because the FIA retains ownership of the original Formula 1 world champion trophy. While the winning driver’s team can display it temporarily, the trophy must eventually be returned, leaving drivers with the option of obtaining an official replica to keep as a permanent reminder of their achievement.
Kimi Antonelli will receive his F1 world champion trophy on 12 December
Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s historic championship triumph has attracted worldwide attention, with the Italian becoming Formula 1’s newest world champion at just 20 years old. At the Mexico City Grand Prix, he finished third and celebrated on the podium alongside Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, receiving the customary race trophy and medal before posing for the traditional photographs.
However, the most important trophy of Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s career is still to come. Unlike the trophies awarded after individual Grands Prix, the official Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championship trophy is presented during a special ceremony organised by the FIA.
The presentation is scheduled for 12 December, when Andrea Kimi Antonelli will attend the annual FIA Prize Giving Ceremony wearing formal evening attire. The Mercedes driver will be joined by the drivers who finish second and third in the 2026 World Championship standings, with the occasion recognising the leading performers across international motorsport.
For Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the ceremony will provide another opportunity to celebrate a remarkable achievement that has already ended Italy’s 73-year wait for another Formula 1 world champion.
Why the Formula 1 world champion trophy is so special
The Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championship trophy is regarded as the sport’s most coveted individual award because it is reserved exclusively for world champions. The 2026 season marks the 77th edition of the Formula 1 World Championship, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli has become the 36th different driver to win the title.
Those figures illustrate just how exclusive the achievement is. Despite the long history of Formula 1, relatively few drivers have managed to become world champion, making the trophy a symbol of membership in one of motorsport’s most distinguished groups.
Its design reflects that history, incorporating the names and signatures of every Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champion. The engravings begin with Giuseppe ‘Nino’ Farina, who won the inaugural championship in 1950, and will now include Andrea Kimi Antonelli following his 2026 triumph.
Drivers who have won the championship more than once appear multiple times on the trophy, with each successive title adding another entry to its history.
F1 world champion trophy design: Laurel wreath, spiral shape and engraved names
One of the most recognisable features of the Formula 1 world champion trophy is its distinctive spiral design. The structure wraps around the body of the award, representing the traditional laurel wreath associated with victory and sporting achievement.
The names of Formula 1’s world champions are engraved along the bands of the wreath, with a new name added every year. This creates a continuous record of the sport’s history, linking successive generations of champions through a single trophy.
At the top is a small circular feature intended to represent planet Earth. The element symbolises both the worldwide significance of the championship and the international nature of Formula 1.
With Andrea Kimi Antonelli now joining the list of champions, the trophy will continue to record the achievements of the drivers who have reached the pinnacle of the sport.
Bernie Ecclestone commissioned the current F1 trophy in 1995
Although the Formula 1 World Championship began in 1950, the current trophy does not date back to the inaugural season. The design was officially introduced in 1995 after Bernie Ecclestone, who controlled Formula 1’s commercial operations at the time, commissioned Richard Fox to create it.
The trophy reportedly cost less than £50,000 to produce and was designed to accommodate the names and signatures of world champions until 2050. There is still space for future winners to be added, ensuring the award can continue to represent the championship’s history for many more seasons.
The trophy is made from sterling silver, 24-carat gold and enamel. It stands 52.5 centimetres tall and weighs almost five kilograms, combining substantial physical dimensions with detailed craftsmanship.
Despite the complexity of the design, its creation took less than three months. The finished award became one of the most distinctive trophies in international motorsport.
Why Kimi Antonelli could have to pay €35,000 to keep an F1 trophy replica
The official Formula 1 world champion trophy will be presented to Andrea Kimi Antonelli during the FIA’s annual prize-giving gala in December. The event celebrates champions from different categories of international motorsport, bringing together the leading competitors recognised by the governing body.
However, receiving the award does not mean the Mercedes driver will become the permanent owner of the original trophy. The FIA retains ownership, and the winning driver’s team is permitted to display it at its factory for a limited period before returning it.
Drivers can instead obtain an official scaled replica for their personal collections. According to reports, the cost of such a replica is approximately €35,000, although that figure has not been presented as an officially confirmed price.
In practical terms, the driver pays for a replica that can be kept permanently, rather than purchasing the original trophy awarded by the FIA. Even though it is not the original, the replica carries enormous symbolic value because it represents an achievement attained by only a select group of drivers throughout Formula 1 history.
For Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who has already reflected on the emotions of becoming world champion, the December ceremony will mark another important moment in his career. He will finally receive the trophy that formally recognises his place among Formula 1’s world champions, even if the original award will ultimately return to the FIA.
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