KIMI ANTONELLI has shattered the Formula One record books.

At just 20 years old, the Italian driver achieved the title of the youngest ever F1 world champion when he finished first in Mexico. He was celebrated on the podium, lifted by legends Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

Now, the Mercedes ace is at the pinnacle of his sport, having dethroned 2025 McLaren champion Lando Norris. The attention swiftly turns to who might be the next great driver.

SunSport has explored several of the top emerging talents in open-wheel racing who have the potential to become the next Antonelli.

Rafael Camara

Brazil’s Rafael Camara has already signed a deal to join the F1 grid with Haas in 2027.

The 21-year-old Ferrari junior currently leads the F2 championship, heading into the final two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

What makes Camara intriguing among his peers is his struggle with myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism; he competes while wearing contact lenses.

He could make his full F1 debut soon due to Esteban Ocon’s uncertain future following his dismissal by the team in Mexico.

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu noted Camara has outperformed Jack Doohan, Leonardo Fornaroli, and Ryo Hirakawa—who earned points on his emergency substitute debut in Mexico—during testing in Portugal.

Komatsu stated: “I always said we would choose our drivers based on performance. He has shown remarkable speed, which was the primary factor in our decision.”

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Ugo Ugochukwu

Much like Antonelli, Ugo Ugochukwu has made history by becoming the first American to secure the F3 title.

He received congratulations on his achievement from Hamilton in September. At just 19 years old, Ugochukwu not only stands out for his speed but also for his impressive height.

At 6ft 4in, it might seem more logical for Ugochukwu to aim for a career in basketball rather than motorsports.

However, Ugochukwu—rumored to be joining the Red Bull junior program before moving up to F2—could become the tallest F1 driver ever if he reaches the peak of open-wheel racing.

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Freddie Slater

British sensation Freddie Slater made his F1 debut during FP1 for Audi over the weekend, which he described as a dream come true.

The 18-year-old from Stratford-upon-Avon had a record-setting year in Italian F4 before adding the F4 UAE championship to his accolades.

Slater—the son of the proprietor of luxury toiletries brand Baylis & Harding—continued his success by winning the Formula Regional European championship.

He previously triumphed over competitors like Ugochukwu and F1 newcomer Arvid Lindblad for karting titles in 2020 and 2021.

Nikola Tsolov

Bulgaria’s Nikola Tsolov currently sits second in the F2 championship behind Camara and is challenging Liam Lawson for an F1 spot at Racing Bulls.

He was also a rookie who participated in Friday’s FP1 session in Mexico, though he unfortunately endured a dead leg while trying to exit the car.

The 19-year-old, racing for Campos Racing, clinched the Spanish F4 championship and spent two years competing for Fernando Alonso’s karting team.

Previously part of the Alpine Academy from 2022 to 2024, he joined Red Bull in 2025.

Leonardo Fornaroli

As the current F2 champion, Italian driver Leonardo Fornaroli is amidst a fierce competition with Camara and Tsolov. He joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme in December 2025.

The 21-year-old also made his mark in Mexico and is set to race again next week in Brazil.

Fornaroli has transitioned to the McLaren Hypercar team as they prepare for their inaugural season in the World Endurance Championship in 2027.

His previous accomplishments include winning the 2022 Formula Regional European title and making history as the first driver to claim the F3 championship without securing a single race victory.