Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest F1 world champion with 3rd-place finish in Mexico

Baku, November 2, AZERTACMercedes driver Kimi Antonelli became the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history on Sunday, securing the 2026 drivers' title with a third-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix, according to Anadolu Agency. The 20-year-old Italian, who replaced seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025, claimed his maiden championship in only his second Formula 1 season, with four rounds remaining. Antonelli broke Sebastian Vettel's record as the youngest Formula 1 world champion and became the first Italian to win the drivers' title since Alberto Ascari in 1953. Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the 71-lap race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, while Ferrari's Hamilton finished second ahead of Antonelli.

Antonelli entered the race with a commanding championship advantage, needing only a ninth-place finish or better to secure the title regardless of his rivals' results. Starting fourth on the grid, the Italian maintained his position after a chaotic opening lap in which Ferrari's Charles Leclerc took the lead following an off-track battle with teammate Hamilton. Antonelli briefly led the race as the frontrunners made their pit stops, extending his opening stint until lap 44 before switching from soft to medium tires. The Mercedes driver rejoined in fourth place before a crash involving Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas brought out the safety car and subsequently a red flag. After the race restarted on lap 47, Hamilton overtook Leclerc, while Antonelli held off Lando Norris. On lap 48, Antonelli made a decisive move on Leclerc at Turn 1, overtaking the Ferrari driver to take third place and put himself on course for the world title. Antonelli maintained his position through another safety car period triggered by Arvid Lindblad's crash on lap 59,…