Lando Norris praises 'insane' Kimi Antonelli: 'That's an understatement'

Lando Norris has lauded new F1 drivers' champion Kimi Antonelli after the Mercedes driver secured the 2026 title.

Norris was crowned at last year's season finale and will relinquish the #1 at the end of the current campaign.

Whilst the McLaren driver has endured a torrid title defence, through no real fault of his own, he was keen to congratulate Antonelli.

"He deserves it," Norris told Sky Sports F1 after the Mexico City Grand Prix. "He has been insane this year — and that's an understatement. 

"Congrats to him. Especially at his age. Twenty is incredibly impressive."

Antonelli smashed Sebastian Vettel's record as the youngest champion in F1 history by over three years, and joins exclusive company as one of three drivers to win the title in just their second season — excluding Juan Manuel Fangio, who took the crown in the championship's second campaign in 1951 — after Jacques Villeneuve and Lewis Hamilton, in 1997 and 2008, respectively.

Norris expressed his joy at seeing Antonelli conquer F1, a feeling that is widely shared in the paddock with the Italian a near-universally popular champion.

"So I'm very, very happy for him; he's a lovely, lovely guy," the 26-year-old said.

"He deserves it an incredible amount, and I hope even though he's young, he goes out and celebrates it properly!

"He has done an outstanding season, so very happy for him."