#mercedes

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli clinched the 2026 Formula 1 drivers' title at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday, Nov. 1, finishing third behind race winner Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari). He needed only ninth place.

Latin Times reports he is champion at 20 years and 68 days old, taking the record from Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 years and 133 days old when he won in 2010. He is the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, and he won eight races this season.

According to RacingNews365, the race had a first-lap clash between the two Ferraris that earned Charles Leclerc a five-second penalty, a 10-second penalty for George Russell for spinning Isack Hadjar, and a 40-minute red flag after Valtteri Bottas crashed heavily when his Cadillac's front-left suspension failed. The BBC's profile traces Antonelli from karting to the title, including the day his father let a 10-year-old Kimi steer a Lamborghini around the Adria circuit.

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, 20, won the United States Grand Prix in Austin on Sunday, Oct. 25, from pole position, his ninth win of the season, Reuters reports via Al Jazeera. He finished 13.078 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen third.

Mercedes kept Antonelli on a one-stop strategy while others stopped twice. With five races left, his lead over teammate George Russell grew to 123 points: Russell must win the next race in Mexico City to stay in contention, otherwise the championship goes to Antonelli, in only his second F1 season. Verstappen, champion from 2021 to 2024, is mathematically out of the title race.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff called it "the race of a champion who isn't the champion yet."