Kimi Antonelli won the Formula 1 world championship in Mexico
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 Formula One world championship by finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, becoming the sport’s youngest champion at 20 years and 68 days. He clinched the title with four races remaining and became the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the race.
More context
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli clinched the 2026 Formula 1 world championship on Sunday by finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix, becoming the sport’s youngest champion. He was 20 years and 68 days old and surpassed the previous age record. Antonelli secured the title with four races remaining after taking an unassailable lead in the standings, NBC New York reported. He is the first Italian to win the title since Italian champion Alberto Ascari in 1953. NBC News reported that Antonelli had won nine of the season’s first 19 races and taken the championship lead in the third race, holding it thereafter. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the Grand Prix, with Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton finishing second, according to BBC News and Sky Sports.
Was this story useful?
What was the main problem? (optional)
Reporting
- Sky Sports — Kimi Antonelli crowned 2026 F1 world champion as Max Verstappen wins wild Mexico City Grand Prix from Lewis Hamilton - Sky Sports
- BBC News — Kimi Antonelli becomes F1 world champion as Max Verstappen wins Mexico City Grand Prix - BBC
- NBC News — Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest Formula 1 champion ever at 20 years old - NBC News
- NBC New York — Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli makes history as youngest world champion in F1 history - NBC New York
- autoweek.com — Kimi Antonelli Makes F1 History as Youngest World Champion - Autoweek
- foxsports.com — How Kimi Antonelli went from a kid hiding in a stack of tires to F1's youngest champion - FOX Sports
Verifier’s note
Sky Sports, BBC News, Autoweek, NBC News, NBC New York, and FOX Sports report that Kimi Antonelli clinched the Formula 1 championship in Mexico, with several noting he finished third while Max Verstappen won the race. Their reports match the proposed event and its timing.