Formula 1 crowned a new world champion Sunday at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, but the race itself belonged to Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver survived a chaotic opening lap, a mid-race red flag and relentless pressure from Lewis Hamilton to win the Mexico City Grand Prix by just 0.799 seconds, while Kimi Antonelli finished third to become the youngest world champion in the sport's history.
At 20 years old, Antonelli secured his first Formula 1 title with four races remaining, completing a remarkable second season with Mercedes. The Italian entered Mexico needing only a ninth-place finish to guarantee the championship, regardless of where teammate George Russell or Ferrari's Hamilton finished. Instead, he fought his way onto the podium, crossing the line just 4.006 seconds behind Verstappen.
The championship celebration came after one of the season's most unpredictable races, with Ferrari's early battle for the lead, multiple penalties and two major interruptions repeatedly reshuffling the running order.
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 01: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (3) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22 Red Bull Ford Powertrains leads Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Scuderia Ferrari SF-26 Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Scuderia Ferrari SF-26 Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy driving the (12) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W17 and the rest of the field at the restart during the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on November 01, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico.
Verstappen Capitalizes on Ferrari's Opening-Lap Battle
Hamilton started from pole position and initially held the lead into Turn 1, but teammate Charles Leclerc immediately challenged him through the opening sequence of corners. The two Ferraris continued fighting into Turn 4 before both ran wide, with Leclerc cutting across the grass to take the lead.
Their battle opened the door for Verstappen, who had started fifth and quickly climbed into second. Leclerc initially maintained his advantage, but the stewards handed him a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage off the track, a decision that would ultimately prove decisive.
Verstappen, running a different tire strategy from the leading Ferraris, stayed within striking distance before moving ahead when Leclerc served his penalty during the first round of pit stops.
The Dutchman later admitted that Red Bull did not necessarily have the fastest car, but the team made the most of the opportunities presented.
“Yeah, it was very hectic out there today, I think,” Verstappen said after the race. “The first start already, I think, made the race for me.”
The victory was Verstappen's third of the 2026 season, although the closing laps were far from comfortable.
Red Flag and Late Safety Car Set Up a Dramatic Finish
The race changed again on Lap 43 when Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas suffered a heavy crash at Turn 1 following a front-left suspension failure. The resulting barrier damage forced officials to suspend the race under red flags, wiping out the gaps between the leaders.
When racing resumed, Verstappen led from Leclerc, Hamilton and Antonelli. Hamilton immediately attacked at the standing restart, passing his Ferrari teammate and challenging Verstappen into Turn 1 before settling into second.
Antonelli followed with a decisive move on Leclerc, taking third place and positioning himself for a championship-clinching podium.
Another interruption arrived after contact between Oscar Piastri and Arvid Lindblad sent the Racing Bulls rookie into the barriers. The Safety Car brought the field together once more, setting up an eight-lap sprint to the finish.
Hamilton remained close enough to threaten, but Verstappen controlled the restart and held the Ferrari behind him. Despite intense pressure, the Red Bull driver crossed the line less than a second ahead of the seven-time world champion.
The narrow margin reflected just how hard Verstappen had been pushed. His victory also strengthened his position in the battle for second place in the Drivers' Championship, with Antonelli's title already secured.
Ferrari Left to Reflect on a Missed Opportunity
For Ferrari, the race offered another reminder that outright pace does not always translate into victory.
Hamilton believed the team had the speed to secure a stronger result, particularly after qualifying on pole. Instead, the opening-lap confrontation with Leclerc compromised both drivers and allowed Verstappen to capitalize.
Leclerc ultimately finished fourth after losing positions during the race and defending against Lando Norris in the closing stages. Hamilton recovered to second but could not find a way past Verstappen despite staying within striking distance.
“I think we had the pace to win today, but it wasn't meant to be,” Hamilton said afterward.
The Briton was particularly frustrated by the consequences of the opening-lap battle, suggesting that Ferrari would need to discuss how its drivers approach similar situations.
With four races remaining, the result leaves Hamilton chasing Verstappen for second in the championship and gives Ferrari additional questions to address as it looks to finish the season strongly.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
Antonelli Completes Historic Championship Run
While Verstappen celebrated the race victory, the defining image of the weekend belonged to Antonelli.
The Mercedes driver entered the season as one of Formula 1's brightest young talents and leaves Mexico as its youngest world champion, having delivered the consistency and race-winning performances needed to defeat more experienced rivals.
His third-place finish was not without challenges. Antonelli initially approached the opening lap cautiously, but Mercedes' strong race pace allowed him to remain in contention. After the red flag erased the strategic advantage he had built during a long opening stint, he responded by attacking Leclerc at the restart.
That move secured the podium position that would complete his championship campaign.
“Yeah, we did it! We did it!” Antonelli said during the post-race celebrations.
The emotion was evident as he reflected on the people who had supported his rapid rise through the sport. The title also marked another major achievement for Mercedes, which entrusted Antonelli with a Formula 1 seat while he was still a teenager.
Verstappen, who shared the podium with the new champion, praised the Italian's maturity and consistency throughout the season.
“He's the deserved champion this year,” Verstappen said.
For Antonelli, the achievement is especially remarkable given that it has arrived in just his second season at Formula 1's highest level.
Penalties Reshape the Final Classification
Behind the podium finishers, Leclerc secured fourth ahead of Norris, with Russell sixth following a difficult race that included a ten-second penalty for contact with Isack Hadjar on the opening lap.
Liam Lawson recovered from a pit-lane start to finish seventh for Racing Bulls, while Gabriel Bortoleto took eighth for Audi. Hadjar recovered to ninth, and Ryo Hirakawa completed the points-paying positions in tenth on his Formula 1 debut with Haas.
The final classification was affected by several penalties, including a ten-second sanction for Piastri following his collision with Lindblad. The McLaren driver finished 13th, while Alpine's Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly also received post-race penalties for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags.
The result underscored the demanding nature of a race that featured several incidents, shifting strategies and repeated interruptions.
Formula 1 Heads to Brazil With a New Champion
The championship now moves to São Paulo for the Brazilian Grand Prix on November 6–8, where the fight for the remaining positions in the Drivers' Championship continues.
Verstappen's victory has added another chapter to his rivalry with Hamilton, while Ferrari must regroup after a race that appeared to offer a genuine opportunity for victory.
But the larger story from Mexico City will endure long after the season concludes.
At just 20 years old, Antonelli has joined Formula 1's list of world champions, accomplishing in his second season what many drivers spend entire careers pursuing. Verstappen may have won the race, but Mexico City ultimately belonged to the sport's newest champion.