Antonelli’s third place sealed the title with four races to spare. Hamilton finished second from pole.
MEXICO CITY – Kimi Antonelli became the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history on Sunday, clinching the 2026 title at 20 years and 68 days old with a podium finish in the Mexico City Grand Prix, which Max Verstappen won.
Antonelli, the Mercedes driver from Bologna, Italy, in only his second season in F1, needed to finish in the top nine to secure the crown. He took third place after a dramatic race, passing Charles Leclerc on the restart after a red flag, then trying to pass Verstappen but conceding after minor contact. He broke the record of Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 when he won the title in 2010, and won the championship with four races remaining.
Verstappen won for Red Bull, his sixth victory in Mexico and his third in the past four races, holding off polesitter Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, who finished second. The win moved Verstappen up to second in the standings, 119 points behind Antonelli. After a red flag, the stewards revised the order so that Hamilton kept his position instead of dropping behind Antonelli, after he had pitted just before the stoppage. Hamilton said there were “big problems” after an incident with team-mate Leclerc.
Antonelli is the sport’s 36th different champion and the second first-time champion in a row, after Lando Norris in 2025. He has won nine Grands Prix, starting with the Chinese Grand Prix this season. He has said his thoughts were with his family, and is contracted to Mercedes until at least the end of 2027.
This report draws on information from Formula 1, ESPN and Sky Sports.