The 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix will go down in Formula 1 history. Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been crowned Formula 1 World Champion after finishing third at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, while Max Verstappen claimed victory ahead of Lewis Hamilton in a dramatic race featuring incidents, red flags and tensions within Ferrari.
At just 20 years old, Antonelli becomes the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history, breaking the record set by Sebastian Vettel in 2010. The Bologna-born driver also ends Italy’s 73-year wait for a Formula 1 world champion, becoming the first Italian to win the title since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
For Mercedes, it marks the team’s first Drivers’ Championship since 2020, when Lewis Hamilton secured his seventh world title.
The race came alive in the opening corners, with a controversial incident involving the two Ferrari drivers. Starting from pole position, Hamilton found himself battling team-mate Charles Leclerc, who completed an overtake at Turn 4 by going beyond the track limits. The move earned the Monegasque driver a five-second penalty.
Hamilton, who had meanwhile lost a position to Verstappen, repeatedly asked Ferrari to restore the original order, arguing that Leclerc had gained an unfair advantage. The seven-time world champion’s radio messages revealed growing frustration with the team’s handling of the situation.
On lap 46, the race was red-flagged following a heavy crash involving Valtteri Bottas. The Cadillac driver lost control of his car after a suspension failure and struck the barriers at the end of the main straight. Race control suspended proceedings to allow repairs to the damaged barriers.
At the restart, Hamilton immediately attacked Leclerc, moving into second place before setting his sights on Verstappen. The Ferrari driver and the Red Bull racer made contact through the opening corners, but the Dutchman managed to retain the lead.
A subsequent Safety Car restart did little to change the outcome. Verstappen held off Hamilton’s challenge to secure his third victory of the season and the 74th win of his Formula 1 career, crossing the line just 0.799 seconds ahead of the Ferrari driver.
While Verstappen and Hamilton fought for victory, Antonelli delivered a composed performance on one of the most important afternoons of his career. The Mercedes driver needed only a ninth-place finish to secure the championship mathematically, but the young Italian went considerably further by claiming the final spot on the podium.
The result caps a remarkable season in which Antonelli has taken nine victories and established himself as the dominant force in the 2026 championship. With four Grands Prix still remaining, the title is already beyond the reach of his rivals.
Behind the leading trio, Charles Leclerc finished fourth, successfully defending his position from Lando Norris despite suffering a significant tyre flat spot following a lock-up at the restart. George Russell crossed the line sixth, officially ending his remaining hopes of winning the championship.
The final classification was altered by post-race penalties. Liam Lawson moved up to seventh, ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar. Ryo Hirakawa completed the top ten, scoring points on his Formula 1 debut, while Oscar Piastri dropped to 13th.
Verstappen may have taken another impressive victory, but the headlines in Mexico belong to Antonelli. Seventy-three years after Alberto Ascari’s last championship triumph, Italy finally has another Formula 1 World Champion.