Kimi Antonelli needed ninth. Third place made him F1’s youngest world champion
The 20-year-old Mercedes driver clinched the Formula 1 title with four races to spare after finishing third in a disrupted Mexico City Grand Prix.
2026 Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix: Kimi Antonelli crowned youngest F1 champion as Max Verstappen wins eventful Mexico City Grand Prix
Antonelli makes history as youngest F1 champion at 20 years old
2026 Mexico City GP: Kimi Antonelli Becomes Youngest Ever World Champion with Mexico Podium
Kimi Antonelli crowned 2026 F1 world champion as Max Verstappen wins wild Mexico City Grand Prix from Lewis Hamilton
Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest F1 champion with third place in Mexican GP
A podium sealed the title
Kimi Antonelli became Formula 1’s youngest world champion on Sunday, finishing third in the Mexico City Grand Prix to secure the 2026 drivers’ title with four races remaining. The Mercedes driver needed ninth place or better to clinch it regardless of his rivals’ results; instead, he stood on the podium behind race winner Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.formula1 +1
At 20 years and 68 days, the Italian broke Sebastian Vettel’s record, set at 23 years and 134 days in 2010. Antonelli is also the first Italian drivers’ champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.reuters +1
A race twice reset
Antonelli started fourth and extended his opening stint on soft tyres beyond 40 laps. A heavy crash for Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas brought out a red flag and erased the tyre advantage Mercedes had built. Bottas was taken to the medical centre and released.reuters +1
After the standing restart, Antonelli passed Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc for third. Another safety car followed a collision between Oscar Piastri and Arvid Lindblad, but Antonelli held his place when racing resumed. Verstappen beat Hamilton by 0.799 seconds, with Antonelli 4.006 seconds behind the winner.formula1 +1
The result left Antonelli 119 points clear in the drivers’ standings. He told reporters he had backed off on the final lap because emotion made it difficult to see the track.reuters
From junior prospect to champion
This is Antonelli’s second F1 season. Mercedes enrolled him in its young-driver programme at 12 and promoted him to replace Hamilton last year. He has won nine races this season, including his home Grand Prix at Monza after starting 19th on the grid.theguardian
He took the championship lead after the third round in Japan and built an early advantage with five wins in the first six races. Even as other teams challenged Mercedes later in the year, his points cushion held.theguardian
The drivers’ championship is decided, but Mercedes has another target: the constructors’ title. The team led Ferrari 630 points to 504 after Mexico and could clinch it at the São Paulo Grand Prix, scheduled for November 6–8.formula1 +1