The 10 youngest F1 world champions ever, as Kimi Antonelli gets closer to an amazing record
Kimi Antonelli has been amazing in 2026 and could become F1’s youngest world champion at the Mexico City GP, just 20 years old. If he does, he’ll break the record held by another young racing star who made waves in a similar way.
Max Verstappen was F1’s youngest ever race winner, but he never quite claimed the youngest world champion record. Let’s take a look at some of the youngest F1 champions over the years.
**1963 champion**
Age: 27 years, 174 days
Jim Clark was young compared to the experienced drivers of his time, winning his first title at 27 in 1963. The Lotus legend was a standout in the ‘60s, winning 25 races from 72 starts with an impressive win rate of 32.72%.
**1997 champion**
Age: 26 years, 200 days
Jacques Villeneuve had an incredible run between 1995 and 1997, winning the Indianapolis 500, the IndyCar championship, and then the F1 world championship. The Canadian shocked many by winning in just his fourth F1 race and later outdueling Michael Schumacher to win the title.
**1975 champion**
Age: 26 years, 197 days
Niki Lauda started F1 by buying a seat with the March team but quickly proved he wasn’t just any pay driver. He joined Ferrari and won the title in 1975, becoming one of the sport’s greats.
**2025 champion**
Age: 26 years, 24 days
Lando Norris started F1 at 19 with McLaren and was a seasoned driver by the time he won his first title at 26. He’s already one of Britain’s best with 13 wins, 19 poles, and 49 podiums to his name.
**1994 champion**
Age: 25 years, 314 days
Michael Schumacher first amazed everyone by qualifying seventh in his debut race for Jordan in 1991, and three years later he was world champion. After the tragic death of Ayrton Senna in 1994, Schumacher became the sport’s dominant figure, winning back-to-back titles.
**1972 champion**
Age: 25 years, 273 days
Emerson Fittipaldi joined F1 full-time with Lotus after Jochen Rindt’s death and quickly made his mark, winning at Watkins Glen in just his fourth start. Two years later, he became F1 world champion.
**2021 champion**
Age: 24 years, 73 days
Max Verstappen burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old in 2015 and won his first race at just 18. He finally claimed his first championship in a thrilling 2021 battle with Lewis Hamilton at age 24.
**2005 champion**
Age: 24 years, 58 days
Fernando Alonso became F1’s youngest champion in 2005, ending Schumacher and Ferrari’s reign. He won a second title the following year and is still chasing a third, 20 years later.
**2008 champion**
Age: 23 years, 300 days
Lewis Hamilton won his first title in 2008 after nearly winning in 2007. In a dramatic finish, he passed Toyota’s Timo Glock on the last corner of the last lap to clinch the championship at 23.
**2010 champion**
Age: 23 years, 134 days
Sebastian Vettel rose to fame soon after Hamilton. He shocked everyone by winning at wet Monza in 2008 with Toro Rosso and helped Red Bull win its first championship in 2010, starting a streak of four consecutive titles for driver and team.