Why Kimi Antonelli did not receive his champion's trophy despite winning F1 title

There was one glaring admission from Kimi Antonelli's title celebrations on Sunday as he became the youngest F1 champion: his trophy. 

The Italian had received his standard third-place trophy for finishing behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, but the big trophy was not awarded - and was only seen on a big TV screen behind him, with his signature digitally added to the 35 drivers who had conquered the world before him - two of whom hoisted him aloft on their shoulders.

When victorious moments in sport are memorised, normally the iconic photo is of the team captain or individual picking up their trophy. 

Think of England captain Bobby Moore holding the Jules Rimet Trophy after England won the 1966 FIFA World Cup. Think Michael Jordan hugging the NBA trophy after the Chicago Bulls won the 1991 championship. Think even of a sport where the most iconic trophy of all isn't even a trophy: the Green Jacket at Augusta for winning The Masters - but the new F1 world champion does not get this opportunity. 

Sometimes, the new champion is not even on the podium, and despite being picked up for an interview by the commercial rights holder, won't take their place among the top three unless they finished in it. 

Instead, Antonelli will receive his trophy, not in the full glare of the public, but at a black-tie gala in Shanghai in December. 

The reason the F1 world champion does not receive their championship trophy instantly is that it is the centrepiece award at the FIA annual prize-giving ceremony, this year being held in China.

There, the world champions from every FIA-sanctioned championship, from F1 to the WEC, the WRC, and karting, will gather in one place, with the FIA keen not to award the F1 championship trophy, as it is believed that having the F1 world champion in the same place as a karting champion sends a good message to those just starting out. 

Although the commercial rights holder (Liberty Media) controls the commercial side of F1, it is the FIA that retains the sporting and regulatory authority. Therefore, as Antonelli was crowned FIA Formula 1 world champion - it is the FIA whose authority the matter is covered by. 

Moves have been made in the past to try and relax the situation - but given the prospect of technical challenges and potential disqualifications, the FIA is reluctant to hand over a trophy to a driver and then potentially be forced to take it away again. 

Therefore, Antonelli, although world champion, will not be officially so until he is crowned on December 12th - at which point Lando Norris ceases to be the reigning world champion as he hands back the trophy, which is then Antonelli's for the year, at least.