Kimi Antonelli, 20, seals youngest F1 world title as Max Verstappen wins in Mexico
Kimi Antonelli became the youngest Formula 1 world champion on November 1, 2026, after finishing third behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver clinched the title at 20 years and 68 days old after a podium finish in the race.
The podium — Hamilton, Verstappen and Antonelli — was framed as a snapshot of different eras in the sport: Lewis Hamilton with a record-tying seven drivers’ championships, Max Verstappen coming off a run of four straight titles from 2021-24, and Antonelli emerging with nine wins and 16 podiums this season. Antonelli’s title also made him the first Italian world champion in 73 years, and he claimed the crown more than three years younger than Sebastian Vettel was when he set the previous youngest-champion mark in 2010.
Antonelli moved to 380 points with four races remaining in the season, while Verstappen sits on 261 and Hamilton on 259, leaving the latter two to contest second place in the standings for the remainder of the year. Antonelli began the race fourth on the grid and entered the event knowing he needed to finish ninth or better on Sunday to secure the championship regardless of his rivals’ results.
The race featured a red flag around Lap 45 after a crash involving Valtteri Bottas, but Antonelli’s afternoon was largely free of incident: he passed Charles Leclerc for third around Lap 48 and maintained that position to the chequered flag. “It’s a day I will remember forever,” Antonelli said. “We had such a strong car, and we were so consistent, I knew we had a chance. Just so glad we could finish it off.”
Verstappen took the race win in 2:20:28.772, finishing 0.799 seconds ahead of Hamilton, and has now won three of the last four Grands Prix. “I had a very good first lap,” Verstappen said. “We had a good strategy, I do think we lacked a little bit of pace but we hung in there. It was tough. I was sweating at the end to keep Lewis behind.”
Verstappen also acknowledged Antonelli’s achievement: “It is incredible, what a season (Antonelli) has had, and to do this at such an age ... I’m sure this is a very emotional day for him, and I am very proud of him.” Antonelli paid tribute to his support network after the race, saying, “Without them I wouldn’t be here, without Mercedes and my family. It’s a special moment and one that will live forever. I’m speechless, I’m trying to process what just happened. It’s been an incredible season, to share this podium with Max and Lewis is really incredible. I’m looking forward to more battles in the future.”
Mercedes now leads the constructors’ standings on 630 points, a 126-point advantage over Ferrari, and Antonelli’s 380 points secure him the drivers’ championship with four races still on the calendar.
