Antonelli becomes F1's youngest champion as Verstappen wins Mexico

Kimi Antonelli became the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history at the Mexico City Grand Prix on November 1. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver finished third, enough to secure the 2026 drivers' title with four rounds still to run. At 20 years and 68 days, he passed Sebastian Vettel's age record and became Italy's first champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

Max Verstappen won the 71-lap race from fifth on the grid, beating Lewis Hamilton by just 0.799 seconds. Antonelli was 4.006 seconds behind. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished fourth, followed by McLaren's Lando Norris and Mercedes driver George Russell.

Antonelli only needed ninth place to take the title regardless of his rivals' results. His afternoon involved a red flag after a major accident for Valtteri Bottas, followed by a standing restart. Mercedes reported that Antonelli overtook Leclerc into Turn 1 after the restart to reclaim a podium position.

Verstappen benefited when Leclerc served a five-second penalty from an opening-lap track-limits incident. A late Safety Car put Hamilton close enough to challenge again, but Verstappen protected the lead to take his third victory of the season. The win did not alter the outcome of the championship: Antonelli's consistent campaign had already put him in a commanding position.

The championship picture

Mercedes celebrated the Italian driver's 17th podium of 2026. The constructors' contest remains open, with the São Paulo Grand Prix next on November 6–8. For Antonelli, Mexico will be remembered as the weekend on which his second Formula 1 season delivered a historic world title.