Sebastian Vettel’s Message To Kimi Antonelli: ‘i Didn’t Sleep Properly For Days’

Sebastian Vettel congratulated Andrea Kimi Antonelli in a video message after the Italian broke his record to become F1’s youngest world champion, and warned him that he didn’t sleep properly for days after his own first title.

After 71 laps in the F1 Mexico GP, Mercedes’ Antonelli claimed the 2026 drivers’ title by finishing third, surpassing four-time champion Vettel as the sport’s youngest-ever champion at 20 years, 68 days. He even got to share the podium with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and four-time champion Max Verstappen.

It is a major achievement for Antonelli to get it done in only his second season in F1. He is the third champion from Italy and the first in 73 years. After a roller-coaster rookie season in 2025, the Italian bounced back well this year to take glory.

He is the 36th driver to be crowned an F1 champion, and Formula 1 shared a recorded message for him from Vettel, who has often praised the Italian.

Vettel recalled winning his first F1 title in 2010 with Red Bull and how he felt for days afterward. The Italian has revealed that they share texts often.

Vettel’s Message to F1 World Champion Antonelli

“Kimi, congratulations. World champion, campione del mondo. Wow. Only very few of us managed to achieve that, and nobody has done it as young as you,” said Vettel. “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. I can try to get at least one point. 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 realized 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. 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, 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, Sebastian. Ciao.”

From Seb, to Kimi Passing on love, advice, and the youngest-ever champion record #F1 #MexicoGP https://t.co/L61c8R91QL

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 1, 2026