On Sunday, Kimi Antonelli finished third at the Mexico City Grand Prix, and that was enough. At 20 years and 68 days, the Mercedes driver becomes the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history, with four races to spare. Funko already had two Pops of the new champion in its catalog, but not the one of the title.
Three years younger than Vettel
The record belonged to Sebastian Vettel, crowned in 2010 at 23 years and 134 days. Antonelli beats it by more than three years. He is also the first Italian world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, a seventy-three-year wait for a country that treats F1 like a religion.
In Mexico City, he only needed ninth place. Starting fourth, he finished on the podium behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, in a race halted by a red flag and marked by the first-lap clash between the two Ferraris.
Nine wins and a record start
His season comes down to one streak. First win in China, then Japan, Miami, Canada and Monaco: five in a row starting with his maiden win, something never seen before in F1. Japan made him, at 19, the youngest championship leader in history. Monaco made him the youngest winner in the Principality.
Then came Belgium, Italy, Madrid and Austin, for a total of nine wins and seven pole positions. Monza is the most symbolic: no Italian had won there since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966. A year ago, he was finishing his rookie season seventh, with three podiums.
Hamilton, Verstappen, Russell: three rivalries
The best story of the season is Lewis Hamilton. In 2025, Antonelli took his seat at Mercedes when the seven-time champion left for Ferrari. By the end of this season, it's Hamilton pushing him: second in Austin, about a second behind, then his first pole with Ferrari and second place in Mexico City. The master against his successor, in two different cars.
Max Verstappen, winner in Bahrain in the spring, is finishing strong: the Dutchman has won three of the last four races and now sits second in the standings. Too late for the title, not too late to warn that 2027 won't be a stroll.
That leaves George Russell, the teammate, more experienced and long seen as Mercedes' leader. He was still a mathematical rival before Mexico, but the gap had grown so large that Lando Norris, the 2025 champion, judged Antonelli to be "two levels above" him.
Funko was one step ahead, and one behind
Funko bet on Antonelli early. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (#13) came out in July 2025, in the middle of his rookie season. The Pop! Rides Kimi Antonelli with Mercedes AMG F1 (#160) arrives this month, perfect timing for a brand-new champion.
The catalog, however, is two seasons behind on Hamilton. His three Pops in the license all show him at Mercedes, including Lewis Hamilton with Helmet (#9). None in Ferrari red, even though he just took his first pole with the Scuderia.
Our take: the title deserves its own Pop
The #13 is the one to own. It shows an 18-year-old landing at Mercedes under the pressure of replacing Hamilton, and today it works like a rookie card. The Pop! Rides is nice, but a car goes out of date with every technical rule change.
What's missing is the title figure: the number 1 on the car, the trophy, or the Italian flag on the Mexico City podium. Verstappen got his Dutch flag (#18). The youngest champion in history deserves at least as much, along with a Ferrari Hamilton to face him.
#funkopop #f1 #formula1 #antonelli #mercedesamgf1 #hamilton
