Kimi Antonelli becomes Formula One’s youngest world champion at 20 after finishing third in Mexico City, where Verstappen wins

Kimi Antonelli became Formula One’s youngest world champion on Sunday, November 1, clinching the 2026 drivers’ title at the age of 20 with a third-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Max Verstappen won an eventful race for Red Bull, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton second.

The Mercedes driver arrived in Mexico needing only a ninth-place finish to seal the championship regardless of what his closest rivals did. Starting fourth, he stayed out of trouble through a red flag caused by a heavy crash for Valtteri Bottas and a late Safety Car after Arvid Lindblad crashed, and crossed the line 4.006 seconds behind Verstappen, according to Formula 1’s official race report.

Records broken

Antonelli beats the record set by Sebastian Vettel, who won his first title in 2010 at 23 years and 134 days, ESPN noted. He is Italy’s third drivers’ champion and ends a 73-year wait for the country, which won three of the first four championships through Giuseppe Farina in 1950 and Alberto Ascari in 1952 and 1953. He is also the 36th different driver to win the title, and clinched it with four races still to go.

His season included a run of five consecutive wins starting at the Chinese Grand Prix, as well as victories in Belgium, Spain and at his home race in Italy, according to ESPN.

“We did it,” an emotional Antonelli said after the race, crediting his team: “without them, I wouldn’t be here.” He said he was “speechless” and still trying to process the result.

How the race unfolded

Verstappen won in 2:20:28.772. Hamilton finished 0.799 seconds behind, after complaining on the radio that the stewards were effectively handing the win to his teammate Charles Leclerc following an opening-lap incident. Leclerc was fourth and reigning champion Lando Norris fifth after a slow pit stop.

• 1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), +0.799s
• 3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), +4.006s
• 4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), +10.707s
• 5. Lando Norris (McLaren), +11.778s
• 6. George Russell (Mercedes); 7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren); 8. Franco Colapinto (Alpine); 9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), from the pit lane; 10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

The championship moves next to the São Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil on November 6-8.

Sources

• Formula1.com – Antonelli crowned youngest ever F1 champion as Verstappen wins in Mexico City
• ESPN – Kimi Antonelli makes F1 history as youngest world champion
• Al Jazeera – Tearful Kimi Antonelli becomes F1’s youngest world champion (Nov 2, 2026)

Featured image: a Formula 1 car on track, photographed by Talon-Kai Honeyman on Unsplash (Unsplash License). Illustrative image; it does not show the Mexico City race.

Oliver Bennett · Sports · Virtual editorial byline
Editorial direction: Leonidas Ferraz · November 2, 2026 · AI-assisted writing