Andrea Kimi Antonelli was crowned the youngest Formula 1 World Champion on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver, aged 20 years and 68 days, secured his maiden title with a third-place finish at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Antonelli needed only to finish ninth in the race to clinch the 2026 championship, regardless of the results of his closest competitors. This achievement marks him as the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing won the Mexico City Grand Prix, marking his third victory of the current season. Verstappen started the race from fifth position on the grid.
The race was characterized by multiple incidents, including a red flag period following a significant crash involving Valtteri Bottas. A late Safety Car deployment also occurred after Arvid Lindblad crashed.
Verstappen’s victory was aided by an internal Ferrari incident between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Leclerc went off track while battling Hamilton for the lead, subsequently receiving a penalty.
Hamilton ultimately finished second for Ferrari, with Antonelli completing the podium in third place. The podium featured three drivers with a combined twelve world titles.
Following the Mexico City Grand Prix, Verstappen moved to second in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship standings. Antonelli’s championship win has already shifted focus to the upcoming 2027 season.
International media outlets are anticipating a significant rivalry between Antonelli and Verstappen for the 2027 title. Antonelli is contracted with Mercedes until at least the end of the 2027 season.
Verstappen, a four-time world champion, has extended his contract with Red Bull Racing until 2030. This agreement concludes earlier speculation regarding his future beyond 2026.
Red Bull has also confirmed that Isack Hadjar will continue as Verstappen’s teammate for the 2027 season. Mercedes is expected to retain its current driver lineup of Antonelli and George Russell for 2027.
Despite Red Bull’s recent race victories, the team has faced persistent clutch and start issues with its RB22 car throughout the 2026 season. Team Principal Laurent Mekies stated that a comprehensive solution for these problems requires significant hardware changes.
These necessary hardware modifications cannot be implemented before the 2027 car. Mekies indicated that while incremental improvements are possible, the fundamental weakness will persist until next season.
Antonelli’s base salary for the 2026 season was reported at $2 million. His championship title is expected to trigger a bonus, potentially increasing his total earnings for the year to approximately $11 million.
Antonelli made his Formula 1 debut with Mercedes in 2025, replacing Lewis Hamilton. He secured his first F1 podium in Canada during his rookie season.
In 2026, Mercedes emerged as the leading constructor, with Antonelli achieving nine Grand Prix victories. He holds several F1 records, including youngest polesitter and youngest driver to set a fastest lap.
