Norris says Antonelli deserves more credit for 'insane job' this season - CNA
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli celebrates on the podium after finishing third in the race and clinching the 2026 Formula One World Championship. (Photo: Reuters/Eloisa Sanchez) Formula One F1 - Mexico City Grand Prix - Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City, Mexico - November 1, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates on the podium after finishing third in the race and clinching the 2026 Formula One World Championship REUTERS/Eloisa Sanchez Formula One F1 - Mexico City Grand Prix - Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City, Mexico - November 1, 2026 McLaren's Lando Norris in action during the race REUTERS/Eloisa Sanchez Formula One F1 - Mexico City Grand Prix - Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City, Mexico - November 1, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates after becoming the 2026 Formula One World Champion REUTERS/Raquel Cunha 02 Nov 2026 06:50AM (Updated: 02 Nov 2026 06:56AM) Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST MEXICO CITY, Nov 1 : McLaren's outgoing Formula One world champion Lando Norris believes Kimi Antonelli has made winning this year's title look easy and deserves far more credit for his achievement.
Mercedes driver Antonelli became the sport's youngest champion on Sunday, in only his second season, with the 20-year-old also Italy's first in 73 years.
"He's done an insane job," said Norris ahead of the race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
"I feel like people are somehow not giving him enough credit for what he's achieved this year.
CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less "He's beaten a teammate (George Russell) that's been in the sport four or five times longer than him, who's also very good, and took the battle to Lewis (Hamilton)."
Antonelli, third on Sunday after starting fourth, went into the Mexico City weekend 123 points clear of Russell and 124 ahead of Ferrari's seven-time champion Hamilton.
That meant the winner of nine races so far, one more than pre-season favourite Russell has managed in his career, needed only to score two points even if either of his remaining rivals won the race.
"They (critics) say, 'Oh, he's not had much competition' and everything," continued Norris. "But that's because he just slapped his competition.
"I think he's made it look an easy year, if you can make anything look easy nowadays. I think he's done an unbelievable job. Like incredible, incredible job."
Norris won the title last year by two points from Red Bull's four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who made an amazing comeback after a season that had looked early on like being in the bag for McLaren's Oscar Piastri.
The Briton was already mathematically out of contention before the Mexico weekend and said he had realised his hopes of retaining the title had gone long before that.
Antonelli's wins include Monaco, Monza and Spa and he has smashed records along the way in a run that included five wins in a row.
Russell has won three races and been inconsistent in his form, on top one weekend and off form the next, and found it harder to adapt to the new cars and rules.
"The truth is he's been at a higher level than me this year," he said earlier in the week.
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