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The youngest ever: Antonelli claims F1 crown at dramatic Mexico GP

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Nigora Umarova
Nigora Umarova
International Department Journalist
Formula 1 Sport
The Italian started fourth and needed only a top-nine finish to secure the title
Photo: F1

Max Verstappen won the Mexico City Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli, who became the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history at just 20 years old.

The Italian finished third to break Sebastian Vettel‘s record, set in 2010 when the German claimed his first title at 23 years and 134 days old. Antonelli had started fourth and needed only a top-nine finish to secure the championship.

Hamilton started from pole, his 105th career pole, but lost out to Verstappen, who climbed from fifth on the grid to claim victory and move into second place in the Drivers’ Championship.

The podium for this race cumulatively had 12 championship titles.

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Chaotic start brings penalties and early retirements

Hamilton held the lead off the line, but Leclerc moved ahead after both Ferrari drivers ran off at Turn 4. Leclerc cut across the grass to take first place, while Hamilton lost momentum and allowed Verstappen through into second.

George Russell also collided with Isack Hadjar, sending the Red Bull driver into a spin. The stewards handed Leclerc a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage off-track and Russell a 10-second penalty for causing a collision.

Both Aston Martins retired on Lap 6 due to abnormal pressure levels in their power unit systems, triggering a Virtual Safety Car.

Leclerc continued to build his lead, opening a gap of more than five seconds over Verstappen by Lap 22. Hamilton criticised the penalty decision, arguing that his team mate’s advantage in clean air effectively cancelled out the punishment.

Verstappen takes advantage of pit stop strategy

The first major strategic shift came on Lap 28 when Verstappen and Leclerc pitted. Leclerc served his five-second penalty, allowing the Red Bull driver to emerge ahead. Hamilton stopped a lap later and rejoined behind his team mate.

Antonelli inherited the lead as Mercedes extended his opening stint on soft tyres, hoping for a Safety Car. Russell served his 10-second penalty on Lap 34, while McLaren‘s strategy was hampered by slow stops for Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

Verstappen became the effective race leader, benefiting from his decision to start on mediums and switch to softs. When Antonelli finally stopped on Lap 44, a 4.3-second pit stop dropped him to fourth.

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Bottas crash brings out red flag

Shortly after Antonelli’s stop, Valtteri Bottas crashed heavily into the barriers at Turn 1. Replays suggested a front suspension failure on his Cadillac, which sent the car across the run-off area and into the wall.

Race control deployed the Safety Car before suspending the race with a red flag for barrier repairs. Bottas climbed out unaided, although he was seen limping away from the crash.

Cadillac confirmed:

«Valtteri Bottas has been taken to the Medical Centre for further medical assessments as a precaution following an incident on L46. He got out of the car unaided and was responsive on the radio.»

Hamilton, Russell and Piastri had pitted under the Safety Car, initially losing positions. However, race control revised the restart order based on the last completed lap, restoring Hamilton to third behind Verstappen and Leclerc, with Antonelli fourth.

The race resumed with 24 laps remaining. Most drivers switched to used soft tyres, while Piastri was the only driver in the top 10 on a fresh set.

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Hamilton fights Verstappen as Antonelli climbs to third

Verstappen retained the lead at the standing restart on Lap 47, but Hamilton overtook Leclerc and challenged the Dutchman into Turn 1. The two made contact but continued, with the stewards taking no further action.

Leclerc locked up heavily during the restart, flat-spotting his tyres. Antonelli capitalised on the Ferrari driver’s reduced pace, overtaking him into Turn 1 on Lap 48 to claim third.

Verstappen was also investigated for a possible false start but escaped a penalty. Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg received a 10-second penalty after hitting Oliver Bearman from behind, forcing the Haas driver to retire.

Hamilton initially stayed close to Verstappen but eventually dropped back as his tyres, brakes and power unit began overheating. Norris remained stuck behind Leclerc in the battle for fourth.

Lindblad crash triggers another Safety Car

Another major incident followed on Lap 59 when Arvid Lindblad crashed into the barriers while running seventh. Replays showed Piastri attempting an overtake around the outside before the pair collided, sending Lindblad into the wall.

The incident brought out another Safety Car, while Lindblad confirmed over team radio that he was unharmed.

His retirement promoted Piastri to seventh and Liam Lawson into the points, despite the latter starting from the pit lane.

At the time of the interruption, Verstappen led Hamilton and Antonelli, who remained on course to secure the world championship.

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Antonelli becomes youngest F1 champion as Verstappen wins in Mexico

Max Verstappen won the Mexico City Grand Prix after holding off Lewis Hamilton following the final Safety Car restart on Lap 63. The Ferrari driver remained within striking distance but finished 0.799 seconds behind the Dutchman.

Kimi Antonelli crossed the line third to secure the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship at just 20 years old, breaking Sebastian Vettel’s record as the youngest champion in the sport’s history.

Charles Leclerc struggled with a severely flat-spotted tyre but managed to defend fourth place against Lando Norris, who finished fifth. Oscar Piastri took seventh despite damage sustained in his collision with Arvid Lindblad, which forced the Racing Bulls driver to retire.

Liam Lawson recovered from a pit-lane start to finish ninth, while Valtteri Bottas was released from the Medical Centre following his earlier crash.

Verstappen’s victory also moved him into second place in the Drivers’ Championship standings, although Antonelli secured the title with three rounds remaining.

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