Newly crowned Formula 1 world champion Andrea Kimi Antonelli has revealed the special message he received from Sebastian Vettel following his historic title triumph in Mexico, as well as the congratulations sent by Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver arrives at the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix still coming to terms with his remarkable achievement, but has made it clear that his immediate objective is to win again in Brazil.
Antonelli is preparing for the first Grand Prix of his career as Formula 1 world champion, returning to a circuit where he had already impressed the previous year. His second-place finish at Interlagos in 2025 came after he successfully resisted a late charge from Max Verstappen that had appeared increasingly difficult to contain. Now, with the Drivers’ Championship secured, the Italian is determined to maintain his winning mentality while helping Mercedes pursue its first Constructors’ Championship since 2021.
The Brazilian weekend therefore represents another important opportunity for the Brackley-based team and its young champion. Mercedes will be looking to reaffirm the superiority it has demonstrated throughout much of the 2026 season, while Antonelli hopes to continue the momentum that carried him to his first Formula 1 world championship.
Kimi Antonelli admits F1 world title triumph still feels surreal
Speaking ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, Andrea Kimi Antonelli reflected on the extraordinary emotions he experienced in the hours following his championship victory in Mexico. Despite having achieved one of the greatest milestones in motorsport, the Mercedes driver admitted that he had not yet fully processed what had happened.
“It’s been an incredible two days. But I haven’t yet had the time to fully take in what has just happened. I’m really very happy. It still feels surreal,” Antonelli explained.
The Italian also spoke about the extraordinary support he has received since becoming world champion, including the celebrations organised in his hometown of Bologna. Messages of congratulations and videos showing people celebrating his achievement have made the experience even more memorable.
“I’ve received so many lovely messages, so much support and lots of videos from my hometown of people celebrating. The support has been incredible. It’s really difficult to pick out one particular moment or gesture that impressed me the most, because they were all wonderful.”
The celebrations have highlighted the significance of Antonelli’s achievement for Italian motorsport, with his world championship ending Italy’s 73-year wait for another Formula 1 drivers’ title.
Sebastian Vettel sends special message to Kimi Antonelli after Mexico triumph
Among the many congratulations Antonelli received, one message stood out in particular. Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel, who made his own mark on the sport through his achievements with Red Bull, sent the Mercedes youngster a deeply meaningful message containing advice for the future.
“I think Seb’s message was really lovely. It was very deep, full of meaning and advice for the future. So it was really nice,” Antonelli revealed.
However, Sebastian Vettel was far from the only former or current world champion to congratulate the Italian. Antonelli explained that several of his most prominent rivals had reached out to him, expressing their respect and support following his championship success.
“I also received a lot from the other drivers, from Max, Lewis and Charles. They were all extremely kind. Lando was also very kind to me. So I’m very happy and grateful to see so much respect and support.”
The messages from Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris clearly meant a great deal to Antonelli, who has already established himself among Formula 1’s leading competitors. Their congratulations added another emotional dimension to what has been an extraordinary period in the young Italian’s career.
Emotional visit with Ayrton Senna’s family makes lasting impression
Following his triumph in Mexico, Antonelli also found time to relax and recover from the intensity of his championship-winning weekend. Among the activities he enjoyed was a particularly meaningful visit involving the family of his childhood idol, Ayrton Senna.
The Brazilian legend has long been an important figure for Antonelli, making the opportunity to spend time with the Senna family especially significant. The Mercedes driver described the experience as something he would never forget.
“I also had the chance to recharge my batteries and enjoy a couple of days doing some really nice activities. Above all, spending time with the Senna family. It was an incredible experience that I’ll remember forever.”
The visit provided Antonelli with a memorable personal experience as he prepared to return to racing in Brazil. It also came at a particularly emotional moment, with the Italian adjusting to life as Formula 1 world champion for the first time.
Kimi Antonelli targets Brazilian GP victory and Mercedes constructors’ title
Despite the celebrations and the attention surrounding his championship success, Antonelli has no intention of easing off during the remaining races of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Mercedes driver has made it clear that winning the São Paulo Grand Prix is his immediate priority.
“The goal here is to win. It’s a circuit I love and the fans are fantastic. So I can’t wait,” Antonelli declared ahead of the Interlagos weekend.
The Italian is also determined to enjoy the closing stages of the season while continuing to deliver strong results. With the Drivers’ Championship already secured, attention now turns towards helping Mercedes complete its campaign with the Constructors’ Championship, a title the team has not won since 2021.
“I want to have a fantastic weekend, but also enjoy the rest of the season. Obviously, we still have races to contest, races in which we want to do well. So I can’t wait. It’s definitely a fantastic place to start everything again after winning the title and securing a victory.”
Antonelli’s approach reflects the winning mentality he has demonstrated throughout the season. Although he has already achieved the biggest individual objective of his Formula 1 career, the 20-year-old remains focused on competing at the front and helping Mercedes finish the year strongly.
With the encouragement of Sebastian Vettel, the congratulations of his rivals and the memories of his time with Ayrton Senna’s family, the Italian returns to Interlagos with plenty to celebrate. Yet his ambition remains unchanged: to fight for another victory and help Mercedes secure the constructors’ crown.
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