Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 Formula 1 drivers’ championship with third place in Mexico City on Sunday, November 1, becoming the sport’s youngest world champion. The FIA confirmed that the 20-year-old Mercedes driver sealed his first title at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, where Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.
Antonelli needed only ninth place in the 71-lap race to settle the championship regardless of the results of Hamilton and Mercedes teammate George Russell, according to the FIA. Starting fourth, the Italian finished on the podium despite a red flag after Valtteri Bottas crashed and a late safety car following an accident involving Arvid Lindblad.
Sky Sports put Antonelli’s age at 20 years and 68 days, compared with Sebastian Vettel’s previous record of 23 years and 134 days in 2010. EFE reported that he became the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, ending a 73-year wait, and secured the title with four races still remaining.
Verstappen finished 0.799 seconds ahead of Hamilton for his third win of the season, according to the FIA’s report. Formula 1 said the Dutchman started fifth and benefited from the opening-lap contest between Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Leclerc received a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage; he finished fourth, ahead of Lando Norris and Russell.
After the race, Antonelli credited Mercedes and his family for making his achievement possible and expressed gratitude as he tried to absorb the result, Formula 1 reported. Sky Sports said team principal Toto Wolff praised his composure. The title came in Antonelli’s second F1 season, in which he has already won nine races, according to the broadcaster.
Formula 1’s next stop is the São Paulo Grand Prix on November 6–8 at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, the series confirmed. Antonelli will arrive with the drivers’ title already secured. Mexico therefore settled the championship before the final four rounds, while Verstappen’s victory and Hamilton’s second place completed the podium on the day the new champion emerged.
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