Antonelli, 20, becomes F1's youngest champion at Mexico City GP

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli secured the Formula 1 world championship on Sunday at the Mexico City Grand Prix, finishing third to become the sport's youngest ever champion at 20 years and 68 days old. The Italian's title with four races remaining breaks Sebastian Vettel's previous record by more than three years and ends Italy's 73-year wait for a drivers' championship since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

Antonelli's maiden F1 title caps a remarkable second season after a challenging debut in 2025 when he was outperformed by teammate George Russell. He won nine races this season, including his maiden F1 victory in China and a drive from 19th place to victory at his home Grand Prix in Monza. He took the championship lead after the third round in Japan and maintained it throughout, needing only a ninth-place finish in Mexico City to clinch the crown. He remained largely clear of the race's multiple incidents and eventually moved into third place after a red-flag restart.

Max Verstappen won the chaotic Mexico City race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez, holding off Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton by 0.799 seconds. The race was marked by an opening-lap battle between Ferrari teammates Hamilton and Leclerc, with Leclerc initially gaining the lead but being investigated for cutting the corner. Leclerc received a five-second penalty, prompting criticism from Hamilton. A heavy crash by Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas triggered a lengthy red-flag stoppage, and Verstappen made contact with Hamilton during the restart but retained the lead.

Antonelli's championship represents Mercedes' first drivers' title since Lewis Hamilton in 2020 and the team's tenth drivers' championship overall. He failed to score points only twice during the season, both from mechanical failures, and established a dominant lead that neither Russell nor Hamilton could significantly narrow. Antonelli now holds a 119-point championship lead with four races remaining, while Verstappen moved into second place in the standings and Mercedes holds a 126-point advantage in the constructors' championship.