Antonelli Becomes Youngest F1 Champion as Verstappen Wins Mexico City GP

Kimi Antonelli is Formula 1's youngest world champion after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen won from fifth and Lewis Hamilton came home second. The title was sealed with races to spare, capping a season of remarkable consistency from the 20-year-old Mercedes driver.

Why it matters:

Antonelli's rise validates Mercedes' long-term gamble on him and marks a generational shift. He beat Verstappen and Hamilton—two of the sport's greatest—in only his second F1 season, and did so without a dominant car for much of the year.

The details:

• Verstappen's race turned at Turn 1 and a red flag; a five-second penalty for Charles Leclerc moved him into the lead, and he held off Hamilton to win.
• Antonelli ran a long first stint on softs, made a crucial Turn 1 move on Leclerc after the restart and backed off on the final lap as tears blurred his vision.
• Hamilton was furious with Leclerc's first-lap move, saying Ferrari lost a likely one-two and that serious talks are needed.
• Antonelli will keep No. 12 next season, rejecting No. 1 for superstition and to stay grounded.

What's next:

Antonelli plans a Senna tribute helmet for Brazil and expects a renewed challenge from George Russell and a tighter 2027 fight with Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren.