Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship on Sunday by finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix behind race winner Max Verstappen and runner-up Lewis Hamilton. At 20 years, 2 months, and 7 days old, the Italian driver broke a 16-year-old age record to become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history with four rounds left in the season.
Antonelli started fourth in the 71-lap race at the Autódromo Hermanos RodrÃguez and crossed the line in 2:20:32.778, finishing 4.006 seconds behind Verstappen to collect 15 points. Red Bull’s Verstappen, who started fifth after a grid penalty, won the race in 2:20:28.772 for 25 points, holding off pole-sitter Hamilton of Ferrari by 0.799 seconds (2:20:29.571, 18 points).
“We did it! And I wouldn’t be here without Mercedes and without my family. I’m speechless, I’m trying to process what’s just happened,” Antonelli said after the race, as reported by Anadolu Agency. As he crossed the finish line, Mercedes race engineer Pete Bonnington celebrated his driver’s world title over the team radio, according to Autosport.
How the Mexico City race unfolded
Antonelli arrived in Mexico City needing only a top-nine finish to wrap up the championship in his second F1 season. The race was halted by a red flag after Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas suffered a broken left-front suspension at high speed and crashed into the wall at Turn 1. The Guardian and Sports Illustrated reported that Bottas climbed out of his car unaided and was responsive on the team radio.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also picked up a five-second penalty, which he served during a pit stop, after stewards ruled he left the track and gained an advantage. Following the red-flag restart, Hamilton moved into second place, while Antonelli overtook Leclerc at Turn 1 on lap 48 to claim third. A late safety car came out on lap 59 when Arvid Lindblad crashed out, and Antonelli held onto the final podium spot through the closing laps.
“This weekend, I did feel a little more tense. I’m just so happy I got it done,” Antonelli said afterward. “It’s been an incredible season, and to share this podium with Max and Lewis is incredible. I look forward to more battles in the future.”
Behind the podium trio, Leclerc finished fourth (+10.707 seconds, 12 points), followed by McLaren’s Lando Norris in fifth (+11.778 seconds, 10 points), Mercedes’ George Russell in sixth (+12.263 seconds, 8 points), and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in seventh (+19.475 seconds, 6 points). Alpine’s Franco Colapinto took eighth (+20.204 seconds, 4 points), Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson finished ninth (+20.899 seconds, 2 points), and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly rounded out the top 10 (+21.483 seconds, 1 point). Lindblad, Bottas, Oliver Bearman, Lance Stroll, and Fernando Alonso all failed to finish.
A 73-year Italian drought and a 16-year age record
By locking up the trophy at 20 years and 68 days old, Antonelli beat Sebastian Vettel’s 2010 record of 23 years, 4 months, and 11 days. While one RacingNews365 report noted the margin was 3 years, 2 months, and 4 days, a separate article from the same outlet listed the gap as 3 years, 2 months, and 11 days. Juan Manuel Fangio remains the series’ oldest champion at 46 years, 1 month, and 11 days in 1957.
Antonelli’s victory also ends Italy’s 73-year wait for an F1 World Drivers’ Champion. He is the third Italian to win the championship, joining Giuseppe Farina, who won the inaugural 1950 season, and Alberto Ascari, who won consecutive titles in 1952 and 1953. Before Sunday, Michele Alboreto in 1985 and Riccardo Patrese in 1992 had come closest for Italy as championship runners-up.
Heading into the Mexico weekend off a win at the United States Grand Prix on Oct. 25, Antonelli held 365 points and a 123-point lead over teammate Russell (242 points). Across the first 19 rounds of 2026, Antonelli won nine races, including victories at Monaco, Spa, Austin, and his home Italian Grand Prix at Monza from the back of the grid, failing to score points only twice all year due to mechanical failures.
With the Drivers’ Championship decided, Antonelli sits atop the standings with 380 points, 119 clear of Verstappen, whose victory moved him into second place on 261 points ahead of Hamilton (259), Russell (250), Leclerc (245), Norris (221), and Piastri (150). Four rounds remain in the 2026 calendar, with the Constructors’ Championship battle continuing at the next race in Brazil.