Antonelli seals 2026 F1 title as Verstappen moves second after Mexico win

Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 Formula 1 drivers’ championship with third place at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, 1 November, as race winner Max Verstappen moved into second in the standings.

The Mercedes driver wrapped up his first title with four rounds remaining. Lewis Hamilton finished second for Ferrari at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, ahead of Antonelli, while Charles Leclerc took fourth.

At 20 years and 68 days old, Antonelli broke Sebastian Vettel’s record as the sport’s youngest world champion and became the first Italian to claim the drivers’ crown since Alberto Ascari in 1953, Sky Sports reported.

Verstappen leads the chase behind Antonelli

With the championship settled at the top, Verstappen’s victory reshaped the contest for runner-up. He moved ahead of Hamilton and George Russell, with the Mercedes driver slipping to fourth after finishing sixth in Mexico.

The leading drivers’ championship order after the race is:

• First: Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes — champion
• Second: Max Verstappen, Red Bull
• Third: Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
• Fourth: George Russell, Mercedes
• Fifth: Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Antonelli has won nine races this season. His title comes in only his second Formula 1 campaign, joining Juan Manuel Fangio, Jacques Villeneuve and Hamilton among drivers who became champion in their second season.

“We did it, we did it. I wouldn’t be here without Mercedes, without my family, so I’m very grateful for this moment and it’s one that will live forever,” Antonelli said.

Ferrari fight opens the door for Verstappen

Verstappen capitalised on an opening-lap battle between pole-sitter Hamilton and Leclerc. The Ferrari pair ran off the circuit during their fight at Turn 4, with Leclerc crossing the grass to take the lead and Verstappen moving ahead of Hamilton.

Leclerc received a five-second penalty. Verstappen stayed close enough to take the lead when the pair made their pit stops.

A heavy crash for Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas subsequently brought out the red flag. At the standing restart, Hamilton challenged Verstappen into Turn 1 and the two made contact, but the Red Bull driver retained the advantage.

Verstappen then resisted Hamilton through the closing stages, including another Safety Car interruption after Arvid Lindblad crashed following contact with Oscar Piastri.

Penalties reshape the points finishers

Behind the leading six, post-race penalties changed the final points-paying positions. Piastri received a 10-second penalty for his collision with Lindblad, while Alpine drivers Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly were penalised for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags.

Liam Lawson consequently finished seventh for Racing Bulls, followed by Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar. Haas debutant Ryo Hirakawa took tenth to score a point after replacing Esteban Ocon from Saturday.

In the constructors’ championship, Mercedes remains ahead of Ferrari, with Red Bull third and McLaren fourth. The teams’ title remains unresolved as the season moves on to the São Paulo Grand Prix, but Antonelli heads to Brazil with the drivers’ crown already secured.