Blog
Antonelli on Vettel’s Record: Hot Wheels, Age Four
123Helmets Editorial Team
Kimi Antonelli’s answer on Sebastian Vettel’s youngest-champion record was simple: he was four years old in 2010 and does not remember it. The Mercedes driver could still become the sport’s youngest world champion at the US Grand Prix in Austin, and he spoke about it at Thursday’s driver press conference.
Key Takeaways
Antonelli said he was four years old and playing with Hot Wheels when Vettel clinched the 2010 title.
Vettel was 23 when he won his first of four titles; Antonelli is 20.
Entering Austin, Antonelli led George Russell by 102 points and Lewis Hamilton by a further nine.
To win the title in Austin he needs to win the race, with Russell P9 or lower and Hamilton fifth or lower.
What Antonelli said about Vettel’s 2010 title
Antonelli said he has no memory of Vettel clinching the 2010 championship because he was only four years old at the time. Asked about the moment at Thursday’s driver press conference, he apologised and joked about what he was doing instead.
He said he remembered playing with Hot Wheels, but not Vettel clinching the title. He sat next to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton as he answered.
The record Antonelli is chasing
The record belongs to Vettel, who became the youngest world champion in 2010 at 23 years old. The former Red Bull driver went on to win four titles in total.
Antonelli is 20, three years younger than Vettel was. If he wins the championship in 2026, he would break the mark by that margin. Antonelli is in his second F1 season, having made his debut in 2025.
What Antonelli needs in Austin
Antonelli can only clinch the title in Austin if he wins the US Grand Prix and both of his closest rivals fall short. The source says his teammate George Russell would need to finish P9 or lower, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton would need to finish fifth or lower.
The source calls the chances this weekend slim. Even so, it describes him as almost unassailable for the 2026 title.
The standings gap
Antonelli arrives in Austin 102 points clear of Russell in the Drivers’ standings. Hamilton, who is third, is a further nine points behind.
The source frames the title as a matter of when rather than if. The Mercedes driver is set to become the youngest champion in F1 history once it is secured.
Watching the 2010 finale later
Antonelli said he only saw Vettel’s Abu Dhabi win years afterwards. The race took place 16 years ago, and he watched it once he was older.
He called it crazy, saying of the way it unfolded: “Later on, when I grew up, I saw the race, which was crazy as well, the way it happened, because it was a very close title fight between all of you guys.” The source adds that he admitted the idea of breaking Vettel’s record only occurred to him fairly recently.
Fans who follow Antonelli’s rise can browse the Kimi Antonelli collection.
“I don’t remember that, when I was four years old. Yeah, I’m sorry. I remember, I was playing with Hot Wheels, but I don’t remember him clinching it”
— Kimi Antonelli
“Later on, when I grew up, I saw the race, which was crazy as well, the way it happened, because it was a very close title fight between all of you guys.”
— Kimi Antonelli
FAQ
Q: Whose record could Kimi Antonelli break?
Antonelli could break Sebastian Vettel’s record as the youngest F1 world champion. Vettel won his first of four titles in 2010 at 23 years old.
Q: What does Antonelli need to win the title in Austin?
He needs to win the US Grand Prix. George Russell must also finish P9 or lower, and Lewis Hamilton fifth or lower.
Q: Does Antonelli remember Vettel’s 2010 title?
No, he does not. He was four years old and says he was playing with Hot Wheels, though he later watched the Abu Dhabi race.
Shop Kimi Antonelli Collection
Display and collector replicas only. Not certified for protective use. Full-size 1:1 scale.
This article was written with the help of AI tools. Editorial policy
