All the stories that got the Sao Paulo paddock talking

Kimi Antonelli has barely had a moment to catch his breath since clinching the 2026 world title in the high-altitude surroundings of Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez – and the young Italian was still beaming when he touched down in Brazil for the final phase in what has been an action-packed triple header.

Antonelli’s title celebrations

Antonelli’s drive to P3 behind Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen last weekend – despite feeling the effects of illness and the pressure of sealing the deal – was enough to put the championship beyond mathematical doubt and spark a long line of emotional celebrations and press duties.

Those continued after Antonelli made the roughly nine-hour flight to Sao Paulo, where he spoke at a special press conference with Mercedes’ Title and Technical Partner Petronas on Wednesday, and reflected on what had happened some 72 hours earlier.