Antonelli Seals Record Crown

Kimi Antonelli became Formula One’s youngest world champion on Sunday after finishing third in the Mexico City Grand Prix, securing the 2026 drivers’ title at the age of 20 years and 68 days.

The Mercedes driver finished behind race winner Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton to become Italy’s first Formula One champion since Alberto Ascari claimed his second consecutive title in 1953.

Antonelli broke the age record held by Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 years and 134 days old when he won his first championship with Red Bull in 2010.

The Italian needed only ninth place to secure the title regardless of his rivals’ results. Instead, he claimed his 16th podium finish of the season after a race interrupted by crashes, safety cars and a lengthy red flag stoppage.

“Thank you so much, we did it,” an emotional Antonelli said over the team radio after crossing the finish line.

His race engineer Peter Bonnington congratulated him, describing their partnership as a journey that had only reached its first chapter.

Antonelli later thanked his family and Mercedes for helping him achieve the championship in only his second Formula One season.

“I’m speechless, just trying to process what has happened,” he said.

“It’s been an incredible season and to share the podium with Max and Lewis is truly incredible. I felt more tense this weekend, but I am so happy we got it done.”

Verstappen secured his sixth victory in Mexico, his third of the season and the 74th of his career, after holding off Hamilton by just 0.799 seconds.

Antonelli crossed the line 4.006 seconds behind the Red Bull driver, completing a podium occupied by three generations of Formula One champions.

The 71-lap contest began with an aggressive battle between Ferrari teammates Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

Hamilton started from pole position and initially defended his lead before Leclerc attacked around the outside at Turn Four. Both drivers ran off the track, with Leclerc cutting across the grass to emerge ahead.

Verstappen capitalized on the confrontation to climb from fifth to second on the opening lap, while Antonelli advanced to fourth ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell.

Hamilton complained over the radio that his teammate had forced him off the circuit.

The stewards subsequently handed Leclerc a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage off the track. Russell received a 10-second penalty after contact with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar sent the French driver spinning.

Leclerc initially built a lead over Verstappen, but the order changed during the first round of pit stops.

The Ferrari driver served his penalty when he stopped on lap 27, allowing Verstappen to emerge ahead. Hamilton briefly inherited the lead before making his own tyre change.

Antonelli subsequently headed the field as Mercedes extended his first stint, eventually bringing him in on lap 43.

Moments later, Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas suffered a front suspension failure approaching Turn One and crashed heavily into the barriers.

Race officials deployed the safety car before stopping the contest to repair the damaged barriers. Bottas escaped without serious injury.

Following an interruption of nearly 40 minutes, the race resumed from a standing start with Verstappen ahead of Leclerc, Hamilton and Antonelli.

Hamilton immediately passed Leclerc and challenged Verstappen into the opening corner, but the Dutchman defended his lead.

Antonelli then overtook Leclerc for third, placing himself on course to secure the championship with a podium finish.

Another safety car followed a late collision between Oscar Piastri and Arvid Lindblad, whose Racing Bulls car crashed into the barriers.

Verstappen held his position at the restart and resisted Hamilton’s pressure through the closing laps.

Leclerc finished fourth, followed by McLaren’s Lando Norris and Russell, whose earlier penalty ended his remaining championship hopes.

Hamilton, visibly frustrated by Ferrari’s opening-lap confrontation, said the team needed serious discussions about the incident.

“We have to hold some serious talks behind the scenes,” he said.

Verstappen acknowledged the difficulty of defending his lead against the seven-time champion.

“We lacked some pace, but I hung in there and I was sweating at the end to keep Lewis behind,” he said.

For Antonelli, the championship brought an extraordinary season to its conclusion with four races still remaining on the calendar.

The Italian crossed the finish line in tears, with Verstappen and Hamilton ahead of him, the two established champions sharing 11 world titles between them.