During the Mexican Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship. His third-place finish for Mercedes at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez was sufficient to clinch the title. At 20 years and 68 days, he becomes the youngest champion in the sport’s history.
Max Verstappen won the race for Red Bull, his sixth victory in Mexico. He finished just 0.799 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton after a tense battle in the final laps. Antonelli completed the podium, securing his maiden championship.
Verstappen praised the new champion’s performance throughout the season. He highlighted Antonelli’s consistency and lack of major errors in only his second year in Formula 1. Hamilton also congratulated the Italian, whom he had lifted onto his shoulders on the podium alongside Verstappen.
Hamilton, who started from pole position, had a contentious opening lap with his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. The two made contact at Turn 4, forcing both wide and allowing Verstappen to move into second place. Leclerc was awarded a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Hamilton expressed frustration with the incident, believing it cost Ferrari a potential victory. Leclerc later admitted the penalty was deserved but explained the situation was confusing as Verstappen had passed Hamilton immediately after.
The race was red-flagged on lap 45 after a significant crash for Valtteri Bottas. The Cadillac driver suffered a front-left suspension failure at approximately 320kph on the approach to Turn 1, resulting in a heavy rear impact with the barriers.
Bottas was taken to the medical centre for precautionary checks and was later released without serious injury. The stoppage allowed for barrier repairs and for all teams to change tyres, neutralising strategy.
The red flag benefited Verstappen, who had just passed the pit entry when the initial safety car was deployed. The subsequent stoppage allowed him to retain the lead. After a standing restart, he held off persistent pressure from Hamilton to secure the win.
Antonelli’s championship season included nine victories and a total of 15 podium finishes before arriving in Mexico. His teammate George Russell finished the race in sixth position.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff expressed pride in Antonelli’s achievement. He acknowledged the decision to promote the young driver was a “calculated risk” that faced criticism, especially during a difficult rookie season in 2025.
The final top ten was completed by Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Franco Colapinto, Liam Lawson, and Pierre Gasly. However, post-race penalties for Alpine and Piastri altered the final classification.
“He has been so consistent, has made no major mistakes and has also beaten his experienced teammate. He has driven incredibly well. I am very proud of the way he has behaved this whole season.”
