Kimi Antonelli and Sebastian Vettel have developed a relationship that goes beyond the usual connection between a young Formula 1 driver and a former world champion. The Mercedes driver, who leads the 2026 F1 World Championship, has revealed that the former Ferrari star regularly sends him messages during the season, usually after races and sometimes even before a Grand Prix weekend begins.
For Kimi Antonelli, the messages have become a particularly meaningful form of support during a season in which he is challenging for the championship while simultaneously breaking records previously held by Sebastian Vettel. The 20-year-old from Bologna explained how much he appreciates hearing from the four-time Formula 1 world champion.
“He is a friend of mine. He messages me after every race and sometimes even before,” Kimi Antonelli said while discussing the support he received following his victory at Monza. “It is nice to receive so much support and appreciation from him. I am really happy about these messages.”
Sebastian Vettel messages Kimi Antonelli after every F1 race
Kimi Antonelli discussed his relationship with Sebastian Vettel while looking back at the flood of messages he received following his Italian Grand Prix victory. His phone was inundated with congratulations, with Jannik Sinner, Marco Bezzecchi and Valentino Rossi among those who contacted him.
However, his relationship with former Red Bull and Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel is different because it did not begin with Kimi Antonelli’s Monza success. The four-time world champion regularly contacts the Mercedes youngster and has therefore been following his Formula 1 career closely.
That relationship has become particularly significant during the 2026 Formula 1 season, because Kimi Antonelli has already taken several age-related records away from Sebastian Vettel.
Kimi Antonelli has already broken a major Sebastian Vettel record
At the Chinese Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli became the youngest pole-sitter in Formula 1 history at the age of 19 years, six months and 17 days. In doing so, the Mercedes driver beat the record Sebastian Vettel had established at Monza in 2008, when the German was 21 years old.
It was another landmark in what has become a remarkable record-breaking season for Kimi Antonelli. His wider collection of milestones during the campaign has continued to grow, with his 2026 Formula 1 record haul underlining how quickly he has made an impact at the highest level.
Kimi Antonelli could break Sebastian Vettel’s youngest champion record
One much more important Sebastian Vettel record still remains. The former Ferrari and Red Bull driver continues to hold the distinction of being the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history, having secured the 2010 title in Abu Dhabi at the age of 23 years and 134 days.
Kimi Antonelli is now 20 years old and leads the Formula 1 World Championship, meaning he could beat Sebastian Vettel’s record by a considerable margin if he wins the 2026 title. With the championship entering its decisive stages, the remaining mathematical permutations can also be explored through the F1 Championship Points Calculator.
The prospect does not appear to concern Sebastian Vettel. Asked about the possibility of Kimi Antonelli taking that record away from him, the four-time world champion explained that he would be “very happy”, adding that “records are there to be broken” and stressing how much work is required to achieve results of that magnitude.
So while Kimi Antonelli attempts to write another chapter in Formula 1 history, one of the drivers who stands to lose the most records because of his rise continues to send him messages. Sometimes before a Grand Prix, always after the races, and consistently in support of the young Mercedes driver.
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