Max Verstappen won a dramatic Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, November 1, while Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli finished third to clinch the 2026 Formula 1 world championship — becoming the youngest world champion in the sport’s history at 20 years old.
Antonelli, who started fourth, needed only a ninth-place finish to seal the title with four races still to run. He went well beyond that requirement, holding his nerve through a race interrupted by two safety cars and a lengthy red flag to join Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton on the podium as champion.
Verstappen, who started fifth, beat Hamilton’s Ferrari by about eight-tenths of a second after a tense final stint. Antonelli crossed the line about three seconds further back in third, ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
How the race unfolded
The drama began on the opening lap. Pole-sitter Hamilton led away, but team-mate Leclerc ran wide at Turn 4, cut across the grass and took the lead — a move that earned the Monegasque a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. Verstappen took advantage of the Ferrari squabble to move from fifth to second by the end of the first lap.
Verstappen took the net lead when he and Leclerc pitted together, with Leclerc serving his penalty before Ferrari could service his car. Antonelli, who had stayed out longer, led on track before pitting, and was running in the podium places when the race was stopped.
On lap 45, Valtteri Bottas suffered a front-left suspension failure and crashed heavily, bringing out the safety car and then a red flag while barriers were repaired. After a stoppage of around 40 minutes, the race resumed with a standing start, Verstappen leading Hamilton, Leclerc, Antonelli and Norris.
There was contact between Verstappen and Hamilton at the restart, but the Red Bull driver held the lead. A late safety car bunched the field again with nine laps to go, yet Hamilton could not get close enough to attack, and Verstappen pulled clear after the rolling restart to take the win.
A record-breaking champion
Antonelli’s title breaks the record for the youngest Formula 1 world champion, previously held by Sebastian Vettel, who won his first title in 2010 at the age of 23. Antonelli, in only his second season in Formula 1, sealed the championship with four races remaining after arriving in Mexico City on the brink of the title following his victory at the United States Grand Prix.
His third place in Mexico City also capped a remarkable weekend for Mercedes, with team-mate George Russell finishing sixth after serving a 10-second penalty for knocking Isack Hadjar into a spin on the opening lap.
Mexico City Grand Prix result — top six
| Position | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 3 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 6 | George Russell | Mercedes |
Hamilton had started the race from pole position — his 105th career pole and his first for Ferrari — after out-qualifying Russell by nine-thousandths of a second. Leclerc’s penalty and the Ferrari drivers’ opening-lap battle ultimately cost the team a shot at the win, and Verstappen extended his record as the most successful driver at the Mexico City race.
What happens next
With the drivers’ title decided, four races remain in the 2026 season. The constructors’ championship and the remaining podium positions in the drivers’ standings are still to be settled, and Antonelli will now race the rest of the season as the sport’s new world champion.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the Mexico City Grand Prix?
Max Verstappen won the race for Red Bull, ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes.
How did Kimi Antonelli win the title?
Antonelli needed only a ninth-place finish in Mexico City to clinch the championship outright. He finished third, sealing the title with four races remaining.
Why is Antonelli’s title a record?
At 20 years old, Antonelli is the youngest driver ever to win the Formula 1 world championship, beating Sebastian Vettel’s previous record from 2010.
Sources
- USA Today — Kimi Antonelli clinches 2026 title, becomes youngest champion in F1 history: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/motor/formula1/2026/11/01/kimi-antonelli-clinches-2026-formula-1-title-youngest-champion/92551622007/
- Speedcafe — F1 news: Kimi Antonelli crowned youngest F1 champion as Max Verstappen wins Mexico City GP: https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2026-mexico-city-grand-prix-world-champion-kimi-antonelli-mercedes-win-victory-max-verstappen-red-bull-race-report/
- RaceFans — Verstappen capitalises on Ferrari feud to win in Mexico as Antonelli takes title: https://www.racefans.net/2026/11/01/verstappen-capitalises-on-ferrari-feud-to-win-in-mexico-as-antonelli-takes-title/
- Fox Sports Australia — F1 2026, Mexico Grand Prix live: https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/f1-mexico-grand-prix-2026-live-race-updates-and-start-time-in-australia-starting-grid-stream-where-does-kimi-antonelli-need-to-finish-to-win-championship-oscar-piastri/news-story/53dbce93cd7c8dccb9994bf1db942dcf
- RacingNews365 — 2026 F1 Mexico City Grand Prix results: https://racingnews365.com/2026-f1-mexico-city-grand-prix-results
