F1: Antonelli becomes the youngest champion in the world, Verstappen wins in Mexico

Kimi Antonelli didn't need to win in Mexico City to get into history. Third behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes' Italian became, Sunday, November 1, 2026, the youngest Formula 1 world champion at 20 years and 68 days. The stories of 20 Minutes, Blick and Guardian converge on this result, also confirmed by the official F1 report. The first two media, however, contain information from the AFP: their concordance does not therefore constitute two entirely independent confirmations. [S4] [S9] [S23] [S24]

A record beat in the second season

Antonelli succeeds Sebastian Vettel as holder of the record of precocity: the German had won his first championship at the age of 23, in 2010. Acclaimed in his second season in F1, with four Grand Prix still to be played, Antonelli also became the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953. For Mercedes, this is the first driver title since Hamilton in 2020. [S23]

The sport equation was simple before the start: Antonelli was only ninth to be titrated, regardless of the results of Hamilton and his teammate George Russell. In fourth, he did better than this minimum by standing on the podium despite a break in the race and a late neutralisation. On arrival, emotion replaced tension: "thank you very much, we did it!", he launched on the radio, before thanking his team and family. [S24] [S4]

This licre above all rewards a regularity built throughout the season. The Mexican podium is its sixteenth in 19 Grand Prix. The Guardian completes this result with nine wins and a first place finish in the championship held since the third round in Japan. The newspaper attributes its two points-free races to mechanical failures. [S4] [S23]

The pilot's performance is not separated from the means of his stable. The Guardian highlights Mercedes' technical advantage during the first half of the season, under the new regulations. Antonelli exploited this asset by taking the ascendant on Russell, presented as the pre-season favorite. His victory in Monza since the nineteenth place on the grid also illustrates his ability to impose in an unfavourable starting position. [S23]

Verstappen resists Hamilton, Ferrari divides

The championship returned to Antonelli, but the Mexican victory belonged to Verstappen. Part five, the Red Bull driver won his third Grand Prix of the season with resistance to the end in Hamilton. The British driver of the pole position at the wheel of his Ferrari finished 0.799 seconds behind the winner. Leclerc took fourth place, ahead of Lando Norris and Russell. [S24]

The duel between the two Ferraris weighed on the race. According to the Guardian, Leclerc crossed Hamilton by cutting a turn in the first lap, without returning the position. The commissioners imposed five seconds of penalty for the off-track benefit. Hamilton felt that his team-mate had to make room. This criticism of the British must be distinguished from the decision actually taken by the Commissioners. [S23]

The F1 report confirms that Verstappen took advantage of Leclerc's penalty to take the lead. He then retained the advantage when the new departure stopped, then after a last intervention of the safety car. His victory was thus played as much in the revivals as in his resistance to Hamilton's pressure. [S24]

The Bottas accident interrupts the test

The race was stopped with the red flag after a violent accident in Valteri Bottas. Blick and the Guardian report a break in the front left suspension of his Cadillac before the collision against the barriers. According to Blick, the Finn was taken to the medical centre, where no injuries were found. These accounts describe the failure, without establishing the technical responsibilities of the accident. [S9] [S23]

The exact duration of the interruption differs according to the reports: The Japan Times evokes 33 minutes, La Libre about thirty and Blick more than forty. On the other hand, the overall course is consistent: interruption, new start and continuation of the race. The F1 then reported another neutralisation after the Arvid Lindblad accident. [S17] [S11] [S9] [S24]

The championship retains other stakes

The official standings after Mexico placed Antonelli in the lead with 380 points, ahead of Verstappen, 261, Hamilton, 259, Russell, 250, and Leclerc, 245. The title is earned, but the positions behind the new champion remain an issue at the end of the season. Mercedes leads with 630 points ahead of Ferrari, 504, Red Bull, 380, and McLaren, 371: Antonelli's individual consecration does not end the competition between the stables. [S25] [S26]