Having secured the 2026 Formula One World Championship, Kimi Antonelli meets the media.

Kimi, what a day. You must have dreamt about this for a long time. What's the reality for you?
Kimi Antonelli: Yeah, I'm still trying to realise and understand at the moment what has just happened because, you know, when you work so hard since I was a kid, I've been dreaming of achieving this, and when you finally achieve it, it's truly, truly special. And, obviously, all the emotions come out as well. To be able to share this moment, to witness this moment with my whole family, with my team and part of my friends as well, is a moment that will always be remembered. I'm just super happy and grateful for what has just happened, all the opportunity and the support that I've got, not only this year but since I joined the team as well. So, yeah, just going to try to enjoy it all the way and then enjoy the rest of the season as well because we've still got a few races to go. We still want to finish on a high, and then, obviously, this new point where to start again and just build on and improve.

The podium here is very special. In the Foro Sol, describe what it was like being held aloft on the shoulders of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
KA: Incredible. It happened in Canada as well this year, earlier in the year, but obviously this is special. And, as I said many times, I will definitely frame the picture and put it in my house because it's just an incredible moment. And as well, to see so much respect from, you know, two incredible drivers who have done the history of the sport is truly special, and a moment that will live and will always be remembered. So definitely I will frame the picture and put it on the wall of my house so I can see it very well whenever I go in.

When you look back at the season, what do you think are the most significant moments as you look at the races we've had so far?
KA: I think it's really hard to pick one. I think the main thing was the consistency we've had during the whole season because even when it was looking a bit rough, we still managed to do a decent result, managed to do some damage limitation. That has been the key, always been there. And also, I think enjoying every weekend, enjoying the weekends, facing the weekend and going to the weekend with passion and love for the sport, for what I do, and just trying as well to appreciate every moment. This weekend has been very difficult emotionally as well. It hasn't been easy, but I still tried to appreciate today, coming to the track having that feeling that today could have been the day, and also the feeling on the grid. So, yeah, just trying to really enjoy every moment, and that has been the thing of the season for me with the team. Just taking it race by race and enjoying the weekend on and off the track, enjoying the time with the mechanics, with the engineers and with everyone involved, because at the end, I've still got to remember that I'm very lucky to do what I love to do as a profession.

Nine wins so far. Which has been the most memorable for you?
KA: Difficult to say. I think the best one is yet to come, as always. But if I had to pick one, I would say my home race. Very, very special one. Then, of course, the first race. You know, the first one is always very, very special, and I think all of them have been very special and very unique in their own ways. I think I rate Spa as being a very special one because Spa was probably last year my toughest moment in my career, and coming to this year and winning at a track where I was probably at my lowest, that was very special. So, I think all of them have been very special, and hopefully a more special one is coming on its way.

Right, and Kimi, final one from me. How are you going to celebrate this one?
KA: I don't know. I haven't planned anything at the moment, but definitely when I go back home, I will take time to organise something big and enjoy the moment. But definitely tonight I will be with my family and my friends, and we're going to enjoy it. And then we're also going to try to enjoy Brazil next week. Of course, it's a very special race coming up for many reasons. But I think, you know, I will enjoy tonight. I'll see what I will do, but definitely when I go back home after Brazil, I will push. And, yeah, then back to Vegas. I wouldn't be in the best state going into Vegas, but I think it's fine, right? You've still got to enjoy all these moments.

Questions From The Floor

(Ronald Vording - Motorsport.com) First of all, big congratulations, Kimi. I don't know if you've thought about this at all, but you're the first driver to win the championship with number 12 since Ayrton Senna in 1988. Do you already know if you will pick number one for next year, or is number 12 special for you?
KA: I think I'll stay with number 12. I'll stay with number 12 because, obviously, it's a very special number for me, but also it's a way for me to stay grounded, to stay humble, and I feel like by keeping number 12 it allows me to have a new point where to start and build on everything again and try to improve. And also, to be honest, I'm very superstitious, and number one has never been a good number for me. Whenever I put it, it went extremely badly. So one more reason to stay with number 12. But, yeah, I will stay with number 12.

(Jack Smith - Motorsport Monday) Congratulations, Kimi. I just wondered how much this title push this season has been motivated by a lot of the people who felt that you weren't ready for Formula One last year. And just also, on top of that, what are your thoughts on George? He's had a tough year. How aware are you, I know there's a lot of races left, that he will be coming back really determined next year to make up for it and give you a big push?
KA: Yeah, about the first question, it's always good to shut off some of the noise, and, of course, I think in many ways it does help to add fuel to the fire, the fact that some people said that I wasn't belonging to Formula One or I wasn't ready for it. Which, at some point last year, probably looked like that. I wasn't ready for it. But I think last year, being able to experience those moments made me much more ready as well ahead of this year. I think experiencing really low and difficult situations, high-pressure moments, really helped me to face certain situations this year, and definitely they made me mature a lot as a driver and as a person. And still this year, I've had moments where I could have done better, a lot better. So, yeah, it's just a constant learning process. But I think, you know, last year, being able to race straight into Mercedes, obviously straight under the spotlight, made me grow much, much faster than if I would have gone to a smaller team, for example. About George, yeah, I mean, definitely I think he has had bad luck at some point in the season. I think he has had a little bit more than me, being honest. I've also had my moments in Silverstone and Barcelona. Also, after Silverstone, we had to trash our new PU because it had a problem in it, and we had to take an earlier penalty, which was in Monza. Definitely, we've had our bad moments, but still, I think he will definitely come back. You know, he's super quick. He has shown this season that when he's on it, it's very hard to beat. So it's just about, you know, on my side, keeping focused on myself, keep trying to raise the bar, keep improving, keep developing, because I think it's not going to be only a matter of George at the end of this season, but I think also for next season, Red Bull, especially with Max, Ferrari and McLaren, eventually, we're all going to be up there, and it's going to be a tight fight. So, it's going to be important to be on top of the game, not only against my teammate but against all the others.

(Tim Hauraney - TSN) Congratulations, Kimi. You had mentioned you had your whole family here this weekend with you. What do you think they were going through as they watched you cross the start-finish line and become a Formula One World Champion?
KA: I still have to ask them, but I guess they were pretty... You know, they were very emotional, very happy. My dad today was fighting for the championship as well with his team, and unfortunately, they got taken out and they lost the championship. And I saw him very sad this morning, and I was like, "You know what? I'll make it up." So, I'm very happy that I did, and definitely that gave me an extra motivation to try and finish it off today. But definitely very special to them here.

(Diletta Colombo - Automoto.it) First of all, congratulations, Kimi. Second of all, what went through your mind when you were crossing the finish line?
KA: I mean, already the lap before, I think I lost probably two seconds because I was already crying, basically. I couldn't see clearly ahead. You know, I could see two Ferraris somehow with the tears. So, it was very special. A lot of memories went through my mind in that moment, all the memories since karting all the way to here. It was a very special final lap, and definitely, you know, then when I crossed the line, I let it all out because it was just achieving one of my biggest dreams. It was very special.

(Luke Smith - The Athletic) Congratulations, Kimi. Just building on Tim's question, how special was it for you to have your family there in the Foro Sol, the moment you jumped out of the car, and also Toto, Bono, all these people who have been so special within your career, to share it with them in that immediate moment?
KA: Very special, very special. You know, my family made an incredible effort to come just for today because my dad was busy with his rally racing team. He was in Mugello, and then they flew Saturday morning and arrived last night. So, it was a big effort for them to come here, and I'm very happy to be able to share and witness this moment altogether because my family has made, and they still do, an incredible amount of sacrifices for me. And especially my dad, he has come to basically all the races this year, despite being very busy with his own work, his own job. So, you know, that has been crucial, to have such a figure. First of all, he was the one keeping me grounded, especially after very high moments, but as well he was the one that was always there when I was facing a difficult situation, or I wasn't feeling the best ahead of a session or ahead of the race. So, yeah, definitely it's been a big part. And then, of course, Mercedes, I couldn't thank them enough because, first of all, they were the ones who took the gamble when I was 11, and they were the ones who believed in me all the way, and they still do. And, of course, it's been a massive privilege to be able to, first of all, race for this team. And, you know, hopefully we'll have much more success in the upcoming years. But as well, it's been a big privilege to work with Bono and with all the other guys, all the other boys and girls who always come to the track and do their best, because it's an incredible group, a very unique one and a very united one. And every single one of them has played a massive role in achieving this.

Check out our Sunday gallery from Mexico City here.