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What to know for F1 Mexico City GP as Kimi Antonelli eyes championship
Fans hold sun shields depicting Cadillac's Mexican driver Sergio Perez and Ferrari's British driver Lewis Hamilton during the third practice session of the Mexico City Formula One Grand Prix at the Hermanos Rodriguez racetrack in Mexico City on October 31, 2026.

Kimi Antonelli is on the brink of history.

He has a second opportunity to clinch his first Formula 1 championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix this weekend. At 20 years old, he will become the youngest driver in the motorsport series, beating Sebastian Vettel, who won his first title in 2010 at the age of 23. All eyes are on the Italian driver as he has been battling illness and exhaustion.

But before the lights go out on the race, Lewis Hamilton extended his own F1 history. The seven-time champion earned his first pole position with Ferrari when he qualified first for the competition. He furthers his record of most pole positions with 105.

The Mexico City Grand Prix is the home race for veteran driver Sergio "Checo" Pérez. The Guadalajara-born driver will be participating in his 300th F1 race. In 2021, he became the first Mexican driver to be on the podium at the grand prix when he finished third with Red Bull Racing. This season, he is driving for Cadillac, who is in their first year on the grid and, along with fellow longtime driver Valtteri Bottas, has failed to score a point so far.

Last year, Lando Norris won the Mexico Grand Prix en route to his first F1 championship.

Here's what you need to know for the 2026 F1 Mexico City Grand Prix:

How can Kimi Antonelli win the F1 championship in Mexico?

Kimi Antonelli can win his first F1 title at the Mexico City Grand Prix by finishing in ninth place or higher. The Italian driver, who races for Mercedes, has 365 points and has won nine races this year, including five consecutive victories toward the start of the season.

Unlike last week's race at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, it does not matter where the other drivers finish for the 20-year-old to make history as the youngest champion. Antonelli won the Texas race, but George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished too high for him to clinch the title.

Russell and Hamilton are the only other two drivers who still have a chance at the championship.

Mexico City Grand Prix starting grid after Lewis Hamilton's first pole position with Ferrari

After two years with the Scuderia, Lewis Hamilton finally captured his first pole position with Ferrari at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The British racing icon's margin to lead the pack was razor thin. He only beat his former Mercedes teammate, George Russell, by .009 seconds.

Kimi Antonelli has his work cut out for him as he hopes to win his first F1 title while battling illness and exhaustion. He will be starting fifth on the grid and needs to finish ninth or higher to make history as the youngest champion.

Here is the starting grid for the Mexico City Grand Prix:

  1. Lewis Hamilton - Ferrari

  2. George Russell - Mercedes

  3. Charles Leclerc - Ferrari

  4. Max Verstappen - Red Bull Racing

  5. Kimi Antonelli - Mercedes

  6. Lando Norris - McLaren

  7. Isack Hadjar - Red Bull Racing

  8. Arvid Lindblad - Racing Bulls

  9. Pierre Gasly - Alpine

  10. Nico Hülkenberg - Audi

  11. Franco Colapinto - Alpine

  12. Oscar Piastri - McLaren

  13. Gabriel Bortoleto - Audi

  14. Ollie Bearman - Haas

  15. Carlos Sainz - Williams

  16. Alex Albon - Williams

  17. Fernando Alonso - Aston Martin

  18. Ryo Hirakawa - Haas

  19. Lance Stroll - Aston Martin

  20. Sergio Pérez - Cadillac

  21. Valtteri Bottas - Cadillac

  22. Liam Lawson - Racing Bulls

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