Kimi Antonelli, 20, Clinches Formula One Title in Mexico City

Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes won the 2026 Formula One drivers’ championship on Sunday, finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix. At 20 years and 68 days, he is the youngest champion in the sport’s history, beating the mark Sebastian Vettel set in 2010 at just over 23 years old. He is also the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

Max Verstappen won the race and Lewis Hamilton was second. Antonelli, who had won nine of the season’s first 18 races, clinched the title with four races remaining, France 24 reported, citing AFP. Al Jazeera put his lead at 119 points, which cannot be overtaken.

His Mercedes teammate George Russell, the pre-season favorite, finished sixth in Mexico and is fourth in the standings. Hamilton called Antonelli “incredibly impressive” and said he deserves the title; Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said the young driver needed a season to learn before this year’s form.

Antonelli, who joined Mercedes’ junior program at age 11, said after the race that he was speechless and still processing what had happened, according to Al Jazeera.