Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest F1 world champion as Verstappen wins chaotic Mexico City Grand Prix

Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes is the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history. The 20-year-old Italian clinched the 2026 drivers' title by finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, a race won by Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

Antonelli started fourth and needed only a ninth-place finish to secure the title, whatever his rivals did, according to Formula 1. He stayed out of the trouble around him and crossed the line about four seconds behind the winner.

"We did it," Antonelli said after the race. He thanked his team and said he would not have got there without them. Sky Sports noted that he is the first Italian world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

Verstappen holds off Hamilton

Verstappen started fifth and took his third win of the season. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton finished second, less than a second behind him. Charles Leclerc was fourth and reigning champion Lando Norris fifth, after a slow pit stop cost the McLaren driver a podium place.

The race was eventful from the first corners. Hamilton and Leclerc fought side by side, and Leclerc cut across the grass to take the lead. He was later given a five-second penalty. Verstappen used the Ferrari battle to move past Hamilton.

George Russell, Antonelli's Mercedes teammate, finished sixth. He received a 10-second penalty for tipping Isack Hadjar into a spin on the opening lap. Oscar Piastri, Franco Colapinto, Liam Lawson and Pierre Gasly completed the top ten.

Red flag and late drama

Valtteri Bottas crashed heavily at Turn 1 in his Cadillac after a front suspension failure, and the race was stopped so the barrier could be repaired. Formula 1 said he was taken to the medical centre for precautionary checks. At the restart Hamilton attacked Verstappen into the first corner and the two made contact, but the Red Bull driver kept the lead.

A late safety car followed when Arvid Lindblad hit the wall after a collision with Piastri. Bottas, Lindblad, Ollie Bearman, Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso did not finish.

The season continues straight away, with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on November 6-8, the last race of a triple-header. Antonelli now goes there as champion, with races still to run.