Kimi Antonelli Becomes Youngest F1 World Champion as Max Verstappen Wins Mexico City Grand Prix

Kimi Antonelli is the 2026 Formula 1 world champion, and the youngest in the sport’s history. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver finished third at Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix, which was enough to clinch the title with races still left. Max Verstappen won the race for Red Bull, and Lewis Hamilton was second for Ferrari.

The three crossed the line nose to tail. BBC Sport reported that less than two seconds covered all three cars at the finish.

Kimi Antonelli’s age: the youngest F1 world champion

BBC Sport put Antonelli’s age at 20 years and 67 days. That breaks the record Sebastian Vettel set in 2010 by a little over three years: BBC gave the margin as three years and 67 days, and GPblog as three years and 66 days.

On the cool-down lap, Antonelli could barely speak on the radio at first when Mercedes told him he was champion. When he collected himself, he said, “Thank you so much. We did it. We did it,” according to BBC Sport.

He didn’t need a big result. GPblog explained that ninth place would have clinched the title even if teammate George Russell won, and 10th would have been enough if Hamilton won. Antonelli started fourth, came in off a win in Austin, and drove a calm race.

How the F1 race unfolded

Lap 1 drama at Ferrari. Hamilton started on pole, with Russell alongside and Charles Leclerc third. Per BBC Sport, Leclerc attacked his Ferrari teammate through the opening corners, went around the outside at the Turn 4/5 chicane, ran across the grass and came out in the lead. Hamilton also went off while defending, and Verstappen slipped past him for second. Leclerc got a five-second penalty. BBC said the usual punishment is 10 seconds but stewards took into account that Hamilton had also left the track.

Russell penalized. GPblog reported that Russell got a 10-second penalty for a Turn 6 incident with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, which sent Hadjar spinning toward the back.

Red flag. Antonelli was the last of the front-runners to pit. A lap later, Valtteri Bottas’ Cadillac crashed at Turn 1 after a front suspension failure. BBC Sport said the race was stopped while the barriers were repaired. GPblog said Bottas got out of the car on his own and into the medical car, and put the stoppage at about 40 minutes.

Restart. Hamilton and Verstappen made contact fighting for the lead, and Verstappen kept the lead. Leclerc locked up badly at Turn 1, and Antonelli passed him on the next lap for third.

Another safety car. Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad crashed after a collision with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. After the final restart with about seven laps left, nobody in the lead group could make a move.

Mexico City Grand Prix top 10 (per GPblog)

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
3. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
4. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5. Lando Norris, McLaren
6. George Russell, Mercedes
7. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
8. Franco Colapinto, Alpine
9. Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
10. Pierre Gasly, Alpine

BBC Sport said it was Verstappen’s third win in four races. Hamilton finished frustrated, believing a win slipped away because of Leclerc’s first-lap aggression, which BBC Sport expects to lead to an inquest inside Ferrari.

Lance Stroll and the back of the field

It was a tough day for Aston Martin. GPblog’s results list Lance Stroll 21st and Fernando Alonso 22nd. In GPblog’s championship table, Stroll is still without a point this season.

Standings after Mexico

GPblog’s updated table has Antonelli on 365 points, well clear of Russell (242), Hamilton (241), Verstappen (236) and Leclerc (233), with nobody left able to catch him.

F1 schedule and how to watch

The title is settled, but the season isn’t over. BBC Sport noted that Antonelli clinched it with several races to go, so the fight for second place and the constructors’ standings continues. In the U.S., F1 races air on the sport’s current broadcast partner and on the F1 TV streaming service. Check local listings for the next race weekend’s session times.

Quick FAQ

Who won the F1 race in Mexico City? Max Verstappen, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli.

How old is Kimi Antonelli? 20. BBC Sport put his age at 20 years and 67 days when he clinched the title.

Who was the youngest F1 world champion before him? Sebastian Vettel, who won his first title in 2010.