Sebastian Vettel has offered Kimi Antonelli a crucial piece of advice via a personal video message after the Mercedes driver took his place in the record books by becoming the youngest F1 champion.
Antonelli sealed the title at the Mexico City Grand Prix at the age of 20 years and 68 days, beating the mark Vettel set in 2010 by more than three years. The German was 23 years, four months and 11 days old when he claimed the first of his four championships with Red Bull.
Vettel has kept in regular contact with Antonelli throughout the season, exchanging supportive messages before and after grands prix. The video sent after Mexico was his most public gesture yet.
"Congratulations, world champion. Campione del mondo. Wow!" Vettel said in the message.
"Only very few of us have managed to achieve that, and nobody has done it as young as you."
Extolling Antonelli's virtues, he added: "You are curious. You listen. You learn fast. You are fearless. Your driving has been very clean and controlled, yet on the limit when it needed to be. You understood that you can only control what you can control. You have a unique drive, and we enjoy watching you.
"When I won my first title, it all seemed to happen the moment I crossed the finish line. I was overwhelmed. I got out of the car, and the world around me was racing at full speed.
"It was like a rush. It was impossible to reflect. I didn't sleep properly for days, so be prepared.
"But I remember the feeling once it sank in, holding the world championship trophy in my hands and reading all the other champions' names. I felt proud and satisfied.
"I realised the best part wasn't crossing the line that decided the title, it was all the races that led up to it. It is never the one race that matters. It is all the races we do."
Vettel then turned to what comes next for the 20-year-old, as attention shifts from the on-track achievement to life as a reigning champion.
"Every race shapes us, and with all that's about to happen in the coming weeks, I'm sure you will soon feel the drive to race again," added Vettel. "As in the bigger picture, there's still a race to win.
"Lastly, a piece of advice: great achievements might change the way people look at you, but you don't have to change the way you look at people. Now go on and enjoy it.
"Un abbraccio forte [a big hug]. Ciao."
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