Kimi Antonelli secured the Formula 1 world championship at the age of 20 by finishing third in the Mexican Grand Prix, becoming the youngest driver to win the title. Max Verstappen took victory for Red Bull after a race marked by Ferrari controversy, red flags and multiple incidents.

Ferrari team-mates Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc clashed from the opening corner. Leclerc attacked polesitter Hamilton through the first turns, with both drivers running wide at the Turn 4 complex. Hamilton rejoined in line with the stewards’ instructions and was immediately overtaken by Verstappen, while Leclerc gained a significant advantage after cutting part of the corner.

The stewards gave Leclerc a five-second penalty, reduced from the expected 10 seconds because Hamilton had also braked too late. Hamilton protested over team radio, arguing that the decision had allowed Leclerc to remain in clean air. Leclerc’s penalty eventually dropped him behind Verstappen after the first pitstops.

The race was interrupted on lap 45 of 71 when Valtteri Bottas suffered a suspension failure and hit the barriers at high speed at Turn 1. Bottas was taken to the medical centre for checks but was unhurt. Hamilton lost third place after stopping as the safety car was deployed, but the order from before the incident was restored when the race was red-flagged.

At the standing restart, Hamilton passed Leclerc and challenged Verstappen for the lead around Turn 1. The two made minor contact, but the stewards took no further action. Leclerc then locked up heavily and, after suffering tyre damage, lost third place to Antonelli.

A later safety-car period followed an accident involving Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad, who hit the Turn 1 barriers while fighting Oscar Piastri for seventh. Hamilton had another opportunity to attack Verstappen, but the Red Bull driver held on to claim his third win in the last four grands prix.

Antonelli’s podium finish was enough to confirm the championship in only his second F1 season. Leclerc finished fourth under pressure from Lando Norris, whose result ended the 2025 champion’s title reign.

George Russell’s championship challenge ended with sixth place. A suspected deployment issue left his Mercedes exposed at the start, and he later received a 10-second penalty for spinning Isack Hadjar. Oscar Piastri finished behind Russell in a damaged McLaren.

Franco Colapinto finished eighth for Alpine, ahead of Liam Lawson, who recovered from a pit-lane start after being disqualified from qualifying. Pierre Gasly completed the points-paying positions in 10th for Alpine.

Nico Hulkenberg and Ollie Bearman had been competing for points before Hulkenberg hit the Haas at a late restart, ending Bearman’s race and earning a penalty. Hadjar finished 12th after his incident with Russell, while Aston Martin endured another difficult day as Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll retired within a few laps of one another.

Sources: The Race.