Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix, prompting a subdued reaction from his Mercedes teammate George Russell. Russell, who finished sixth in the race, opted to skip his mandatory media duties following the event.
Despite his absence from the media pen, Russell did congratulate Antonelli on his maiden title victory. The 20-year-old Italian became the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history, clinching the title with a third-place finish in Mexico.
The Mexico City Grand Prix was won by Max Verstappen of Red Bull, with Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari finishing second. Antonelli’s podium finish was sufficient to secure the championship with four races remaining in the 2026 season.
Russell’s race was compromised early on by a 10-second time penalty. Stewards deemed him responsible for a collision with Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar on the opening lap at Turn 6. The incident resulted in Hadjar spinning and dropping to the rear of the field.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff later addressed Russell’s decision to forgo media engagements. Wolff stated that Russell was ‘distraught’ after the race, describing it as a ‘catastrophic moment’ for a racing driver.
I saw George after the race on the FIA scales, and obviously he’s distraught about the situation. It was a great show of sportsmanship to go and see Kimi. I have known George for such a long time. So, I saw him and thought, for a racing driver, this is a catastrophic moment.
Wolff also indicated that an unexpected lack of energy delivery at the start contributed to Russell losing positions on the run to Turn 1. For his failure to attend media duties, Mercedes was issued a €5,000 fine by the FIA. This penalty was applied in accordance with Article B10.1.4e of the FIA’s F1 sporting regulations.
The outcome of the Mexico City Grand Prix saw Russell drop from second to fourth in the Drivers’ Championship standings. Antonelli now leads the championship with 380 points, followed by Verstappen with 261 points and Hamilton with 259 points. Russell holds fourth place with 250 points.
Antonelli’s championship win makes him the first Italian world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953. He surpassed Sebastian Vettel’s record to become the youngest champion at 20 years and 68 days old.
Russell’s 2026 season has included three race victories and eight podium finishes prior to Mexico. However, he has openly discussed the inconsistency of his performance, attributing it to factors such as the characteristics of the new power units and high rear tyre pressures affecting his natural driving style.
The Formula 1 calendar continues with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, scheduled to take place at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos from November 6-8, 2026.
