Kimi Antonelli’s first Formula 1 championship was the headline from the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix, but the weekend also exposed several issues across the grid, from Ferrari’s intra-team conflict to questions about overtaking and car reliability.
Ferrari’s drivers again struggled to race each other without compromising the team’s result. Charles Leclerc attacked Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap, while both drivers ran wide while focused on their battle. Max Verstappen benefited, and Ferrari lost what could have been a one-two finish.
Hamilton later criticised Leclerc’s approach to team-mate racing, arguing that Ferrari’s priority should have been securing both top positions. Team principal Fred Vasseur appeared increasingly frustrated as the post-race discussions continued, highlighting a lack of confidence that the drivers would follow a consistent tactical plan.
Leclerc’s track-limits penalty also raised questions about the effectiveness of Formula 1’s rules. He gained the lead by leaving the circuit and, although he was penalised, the punishment did not immediately put him behind the driver he had overtaken. Red Bull reacted by pitting Verstappen as Leclerc served the penalty, allowing Verstappen to retain track position.
The incident renewed concerns that drivers can benefit from taking a position off-track if their car has enough performance to absorb the eventual penalty. A change to the corner sequence is reportedly being considered for next year, but the issue is not limited to Mexico. A position swap could have provided a stronger deterrent in this particular situation.
Antonelli’s title was widely celebrated inside the paddock. The Mercedes driver had finished on the podium at all but three grands prix during the season, and his performances had made him especially popular at races such as Monaco, Monza and Mexico.
Verstappen said he was proud of Antonelli’s achievement, while Hamilton described himself as grateful to have witnessed the championship moment. Lando Norris praised the Italian’s season, and Mercedes team-mate George Russell quickly congratulated him despite being fined for missing post-race media duties. Antonelli completed his first title campaign without becoming embroiled in a public controversy, while delivering remarkable consistency.
The race also highlighted the effect of circuit-specific electrical restrictions under the 2026 regulations. Lando Norris said the limitation prevented drivers from gaining extra speed in the slipstream, making overtaking more difficult. Hamilton expressed a similar frustration after being unable to pass Verstappen during the closing stages.
The regulations do not establish a fixed speed limit for every circuit. Instead, the FIA can restrict maximum electrical power where necessary to keep speeds compatible with a track’s design. In Mexico, the combination of substantial energy recovery opportunities and a single long straight contributed to cars reaching similar speeds at the end of the straight, limiting the advantage of following another car.
McLaren’s qualifying performance was another significant factor. Norris believed the team had a car capable of fighting for victory but started only sixth after struggling to reproduce his Q2 lap in the final qualifying session. Team principal Andrea Stella said both the team and its drivers had a responsibility to extract more from a car that was difficult to operate at its limit.
Oscar Piastri’s third place in qualifying at Baku remains McLaren’s only top-three grid position in the five races since its strongest weekend in Madrid. Although the team has shown more competitive pace in races, its Saturday results continue to undermine its overall prospects.
Cadillac left Mexico with a safety concern after Valtteri Bottas suffered a heavy crash at Turn 1 following a front-left suspension failure. The team had experienced a similar problem with Sergio Perez in Montreal, where a sudden front-right suspension failure ended his race.
Cadillac said it would investigate the failure in detail. Bottas was checked and discharged from the medical centre, and said he was thankful to be unharmed. The incident was his fourth retirement in the last five races, adding further uncertainty around his future with the team.
Ryo Hirakawa scored a point on his Formula 1 debut after three drivers received penalties, but his result reflected a composed performance rather than simple fortune. He was informed of his debut through a phone call early on Saturday and qualified within three tenths of team-mate Ollie Bearman before traffic affected his final lap.
Hirakawa adopted a cautious approach at the start, then improved as the race progressed. He overtook both Williams cars in the closing stages and set his fastest lap on the final tour. The penalties applied to Oscar Piastri and the Alpine drivers ultimately moved him into the points, rewarding a debut in which he avoided the mistakes that affected several rivals.
Aston Martin endured one of its most difficult weekends of the season. Problems with the ERS cooling system emerged under Mexico’s high-altitude conditions, forcing Fernando Alonso to stop during qualifying and both Aston Martin cars to retire after only a few laps of the race.
The failures were especially costly because Aston Martin’s chassis had appeared capable of challenging strongly in the midfield. Honda chief engineer Shintaro Orihara said the cooling circuit had faced more stress than expected, while Alonso described the event as part of the team’s learning process. The double retirement showed that the power unit and its supporting systems remain a major limitation for Aston Martin when its car has the pace to score points.
Sources: The Race.