Antonelli becomes F1's youngest champion as Verstappen wins Mexico City GP

Kimi Antonelli became Formula 1’s youngest World Champion after finishing third in a dramatic Mexico City Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen held off Lewis Hamilton for his third win of the season.

Why it matters:

Antonelli, 20, needed only ninth to seal the title. Instead, he turned fourth on the grid into a podium, capitalising on Mercedes’ clear-air strategy while his rivals fought through penalties, restarts and safety cars. The result ends any lingering title fight and confirms a generational shift.

The details:

• Verstappen beat Hamilton by 0.799s after a late Safety Car; Antonelli finished 4.006s back.
• Leclerc took fourth despite a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. Norris was fifth, ahead of Russell.
• Russell’s difficult start included contact with Hadjar and a 10-second penalty, dropping him to sixth.
• Bottas’s heavy Turn 1 crash triggered a red flag and a 40-minute stoppage. Lindblad’s late crash brought another Safety Car.
• Piastri recovered from 12th to seventh; Lawson climbed from the pit lane to ninth.

What’s next:

Antonelli’s crown is secure, but the closing races now shift focus to pride, positioning and next year’s development race. Verstappen’s late resistance shows Red Bull remains a threat, while Mercedes has a champion to build around.