A New Champion

First of All...

We have a new champion in Formula 1, and congratulations are certainly deserved. The youngest to ever do it — congratulations, Andrea Kimi Antonelli!

You have brought the crown back to Italy, even if it wasn't through the country's own team. I'm looking at you, Scuderia Ferrari, for not picking this national talent.

You drove a fantastic season with a car that was ready for you to take it as far as it could go. And not only did you do that, but you were dominant in a way that was refreshing and exciting. Each race was a welcome experience, and each one made it feel like there was a competition, even if fate had already chosen you.

The crown

You won multiple GPs this season and managed to make consistency part of who you are, allowing Mercedes to dream big from the moment the season began. And while it was expected that the other driver on your team would step up and claim that crown, you had other plans — and thank you for that.

Nothing against George Russell; he is a great driver as well. But you, Andrea, have something special about you. As much as people nowadays want to talk about aura on social media without actually understanding what it means, you have it.

You made that crown yours, race by race, always focused and with your hands firmly on the steering wheel. You gave us a champion whose victory, no matter which team you cheer for, is something you can be happy about as a fan. A newly crowned champion we can all appreciate.

Youth is not only blissful, but could it hold a future dominance?

What happens now? The season isn't over yet, as your team is still fighting for the Constructors' Championship. They also want to ensure your teammate finishes strong. Even if a 1-2 finish isn't as simple as they would like, they are definitely going to try.

But your crown is already firmly placed atop your curly mane, and you still have races ahead of you in 2026 to show it off in the best possible way — by winning more races.

But once the season ends, what will Mercedes do? What will you do? How will they plan for the 2027 season? Are you the team's main driver now? Is your teammate okay with this? We don't know, but we can only hope that they allow you to come back next year stronger and ready to continue fighting for that crown over and over again.

You have great competition in the paddock, and you have shown us that you are up for it. So, I hope you come back next year ready to continue your reign. But I also hope that Max, Lando, Lewis, and the rest of the drivers come back with a vengeance, ready to try and take it from you.

You can handle the pressure. You have shown us over and over again that you are up for a fight, and I know your hands will be firmly on the steering wheel, waiting to see who tries to take that crown from you next season.