Italy's Andrea Kimi Antonelli was crowned Formula 1 world champion on Sunday 1 November 2026 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, where he finished third in a race won by Dutchman Max Verstappen. At 20 years and 68 days old, the Mercedes driver became the youngest champion in the category's history, securing the title with four rounds still to run.
Antonelli had started fourth and needed only a ninth-place finish to settle the matter. He ended up on the podium, 4.006 seconds behind the winner, erasing the record held by Germany's Sebastian Vettel since 2010. The title is also the first for an Italian driver since Alberto Ascari, who won his in 1953.
"We did it. And, you know, without them, I wouldn't be here," Antonelli told Formula 1's official website after the race, referring to his team.
Verstappen wins by eight tenths
Verstappen started fifth and completed the 71 laps in 2 hours, 20 minutes and 28.772 seconds. It was his third win of the season, and he took it by just 0.799 seconds over Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), who came second. Behind Antonelli came Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) in fourth and Lando Norris (McLaren) in fifth.
The race had everything. A virtual safety car on lap 7, when Lance Stroll's Aston Martin stopped on track; a five-second penalty for Leclerc on lap 13 for leaving the circuit while passing Hamilton; and a ten-second penalty for George Russell over his collision with Isack Hadjar. On lap 46, a left-front suspension failure on Valtteri Bottas's Cadillac sent him into the barriers at Turn 1 and brought out the red flag: the race resumed with a standing start.
Argentina's Franco Colapinto (Alpine) crossed the line eighth and was placed under investigation for failing to slow under yellow flags, as was his team-mate Pierre Gasly. According to La Nación, the ten-second penalty dropped Colapinto to 15th and added one point to his licence, costing Alpine the five points it had scored on track.
Checo Pérez 17th in his 300th race
Mexico's Sergio «Checo» Pérez contested his 300th Grand Prix at home and finished 17th, out of the points, according to Motorsport and TV Azteca. He had qualified 21st and, during the red-flag stoppage, picked up a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane. His Cadillac team-mate Bottas did not finish.
Japan's Ryo Hirakawa, making his Formula 1 debut, came 13th for Haas.
How the championships stand
Antonelli leads the drivers' championship on 380 points, followed by Verstappen on 261, Hamilton on 259, Russell on 250 and Leclerc on 245. Among the constructors, Mercedes leads on 630 points, ahead of Ferrari (504), Red Bull (380) and McLaren (371).
Four races remain on the calendar: Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. The drivers' crown is settled, but the constructors' championship is still mathematically open.
With information from Formula 1's official website, Motorsport, ClaroSports, TV Azteca, La Nación, Infobae and Expansión.
