By Karim Hammam
Italian driver Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 Formula 1 world championship at the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday, becoming the youngest champion in the sport's history at age 20.
Antonelli entered the race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with a 123-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell and 124 points over Lewis Hamilton. He needed only a ninth-place finish to clinch the title, but finished third on the podium behind race winner Max Verstappen and second-placed Hamilton.
Championship clinched with podium finish
The Mercedes driver started the weekend on the cusp of his first title after a dominant victory in Austin. In Mexico, he ran consistently in the top three throughout the race, which featured multiple safety car periods and a red flag following a heavy crash for Valtteri Bottas.
On the final lap, Antonelli was confirmed as champion. Team radio captured his emotional reaction: "Thank you so much, we did it!" Team principal Toto Wolff added: "Kimi we did it, world champion!"
Celebrations with rivals and family
After the race, Antonelli was embraced by Verstappen and Hamilton in the stadium section, with the trio boasting 12 world championships between them. He also hugged his father Marco, family members, engineers, Russell, and Wolff, in scenes described as touching by observers.
The championship caps a remarkable second season for Antonelli, who has blown away rivals since his debut. Last year's Mexican Grand Prix winner Lando Norris went on to win his maiden title, while Sergio Perez returned to his home race after signing a new contract with Cadillac.
