Kimi Antonelli has become Formula 1’s youngest-ever world champion after securing the 2026 World Drivers’ Championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

The 20-year-old Mercedes driver secured his maiden F1 world title with a third place finish at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, while Max Verstappen took the race win in Mexico City. Antonelli’s title victory beats former Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel’s age record - achieved at the Abu Dhabi GP in 2010 - by a whopping three years and 66 days.

Antonelli came into Round 19 of the 2026 season knowing a P9 finish would secure him the Drivers’ title even if his teammate and closest rival George Russell won in Mexico, while a tenth-place finish would get the job done in the case of a win for Pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton.

Having won in Austin last time out, Antonelli started the Mexico City GP in fourth, just behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, while Russell joined Lewis Hamilton on the front row. Despite navigating a tricky Mercedes upgrade package in recent weeks, the Italian had more than enough to secure the result required.

Antonelli wins F1 Drivers’ title in Mexico

Photo: Race Pictures

Unsurprisingly, Lap 1 action in Mexico was fraught, with Leclerc getting ahead of Hamilton at Turn 4 after a fierce intra-Ferrari scrap, but later receiving a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

Meanwhile, Russell received a 10-second penalty for a Turn 6 incident with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar, which left the Frenchman spinning and towards the back of the grid.

Leclerc pushed on with impressive pace to gain a five-second lead on Verstappen - who also passed a furious Hamilton on Lap 1 - but could not stay ahead of the Dutchman after both drivers pitted on Lap 28. After his own penalty-affected stop, Russell reemerged down in P6 six laps later.

With Verstappen in the net lead, and only eight seconds behind, Antonelli was the last driver to pit on Lap 43, one lap before a scary crash for Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas. Upon suspension failure on the way to Turn 1, the Finn spun into the barriers at high speed and brought out the Red Flag. Thankfully, the Finn emerged out of his MAC-26 and into the medical car of his own accord.

After a 40-minute stoppage, the race was back underway after another chaotic start, with Hamilton getting into P2 ahead of Leclerc after a much better launch, but making contact with Verstappen who kept his lead.

Suffering a huge lock up at Turn 1, the Monegasque driver was then overtaken a lap later after an excellent pass by Antonelli for the final podium spot.

Despite a Lap 59 Safety Car caused by a collision between Oscar Piastri and Arvid Lindblad, the latter crashing into the barrier at Turn 2, Verstappen again maintained the lead of the race, ultimately finishing ahead of Hamilton, and F1's youngest-ever world champion, Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Here are the full results from the Mexico City GP: