Kimi Antonelli Crowned Youngest F1 World Champion at Mexico City GP
Kimi Antonelli becomes the youngest Formula 1 champion after finishing third at the Mexico City GP, while Max Verstappen secures the race win.
Mexico City, November 2 (Daily Kiran) : Kimi Antonelli has made history as the youngest Formula 1 World Champion after clinching the title at the Mexico City Grand Prix on November 2, 2026. The Mercedes driver secured his championship by finishing third in the race, which was won by Max Verstappen, who outpaced Lewis Hamilton.
At just 20 years and 68 days old, Antonelli surpassed Sebastian Vettel’s previous record. Vettel won his first championship in 2010 at the age of 23 years and 134 days. During the 71-lap race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Antonelli only needed to finish ninth to secure the title, regardless of where his competitors, including Hamilton and teammate George Russell, placed.
“We did it! Honestly, I wouldn’t be here without them. It wouldn’t have been possible without Mercedes and my family. I am so grateful for this moment; it’s one I will always remember. I am still trying to grasp what just happened,” Antonelli expressed after the race.
According to Formula 1 reports, Antonelli started the race in fourth position but faced several challenges, including a “red flag” due to a severe accident involving Valtteri Bottas. The race was later interrupted by a safety car deployment following a crash by Arvid Lindblad.
Verstappen achieved his third victory of the season, finishing just 0.799 seconds ahead of Hamilton. Starting from fifth on the grid, the Red Bull driver successfully managed the pressure from Hamilton, benefiting from fierce competition within the Ferrari team.
Charles Leclerc finished fourth, fending off significant pressure from Lando Norris of McLaren. Behind them were George Russell and Liam Lawson, who entered the race from the pit lane. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), Red Bull’s Isack Hajar—who had spun out on the first lap due to a collision with Russell—and Ryo Hirakawa, making his F1 debut for Haas, rounded out the top ten.
Alex Albon of Williams narrowly missed out on points, finishing just ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz. Oscar Piastri received a 10-second penalty for colliding with Lindblad, dropping him to 13th place. Nico Hülkenberg also faced a 10-second penalty for a collision with Oli Behrman, finishing 14th, while Alpine’s Franco Colapinto was penalized for failing to slow during a yellow flag situation.
Sergio Perez finished 16th for Cadillac. Pierre Gasly of Alpine received a 30-second penalty for not reducing speed during a double yellow flag, causing the team to miss out on scoring points. Antonelli now holds an unassailable lead in the championship with 119 points, while Verstappen sits in second place. Russell has fallen to fourth, trailing his teammate by 130 points. The F1 paddock now heads to the São Paulo Grand Prix, scheduled for November 6-8.
