Antonelli becomes youngest F1 world champion at Mexico City Grand Prix

Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 Formula 1 drivers' championship at the Mexican Grand Prix in Mexico City on 1 November, with four rounds of the season still to run. He arrived at the race needing only a ninth-place finish to be sure of the title, even if his Mercedes teammate and closest rival George Russell won.

Antonelli finished third, behind race winner Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, which was more than enough. At 20 years and 68 days old, he became the youngest world champion in the sport's history, beating Sebastian Vettel's record by almost three years. He was also the first Italian champion in 73 years.

The result mattered because it completed a rapid rise for the Italian, who joined Mercedes as a rookie in 2025 as the replacement for Hamilton. It also put Mercedes in a commanding position in the constructors' standings, setting up the team's own title later in the season.