Antonelli crowned world champion as Verstappen wins in Mexico.

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 0906 EAT on Monday 2 November 2026

Antonelli, 20 years and 68 days old, finished third behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

His historic achievement came on a day when tensions between seven-time world champion Hamilton and his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc threatened to boil over.

Antonelli delivered a composed performance amid chaotic action among the leading drivers in a race interrupted by a red flag, which set up a 25-lap sprint to the finish.

During the closing laps, the Italian watched as Hamilton attempted to get close enough to overtake Verstappen after the two made contact at the first chicane following the restart.

However, Hamilton struggled to get his Ferrari close enough to mount a serious challenge and finished the race frustrated, believing victory had slipped away following what he considered Leclerc’s aggressive driving on the opening lap.

Those tensions, however, took a back seat as Antonelli made history, breaking Sebastian Vettel’s record as the youngest Formula One world champion by three years and 66 days.

Antonelli also became the first Italian to win the Formula One drivers’ championship since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

The emotional champion struggled to contain his excitement during the slowing-down lap, with tears and laughter interrupting his radio conversation after his team informed him that he had secured the title.

After briefly composing himself, he said: “Thank you so much. We did it. We did it.”

Antonelli entered the race knowing that he effectively needed only to avoid trouble to secure the title.

The only scenario that could deny him the championship was a victory by either George Russell or Lewis Hamilton. Even then, Antonelli needed only to finish ninth if Russell won or 10th if Hamilton took the chequered flag.

He maintained a steady fourth place during the opening stint, behind Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Hamilton. He moved into the lead as the drivers ahead made their pit stops before pitting for fresh tyres a lap before the safety car was deployed. The timing of his stop meant Mercedes had to extend his final stint.

Valtteri Bottas brought out the safety car on lap 45 after crashing his Cadillac when its front suspension failed under braking for Turn One. The race was later red-flagged when officials realised repairs to the barriers would take considerable time.

At the restart, Leclerc heavily locked his left-front wheel as Verstappen and Hamilton battled for the lead. Antonelli passed the Ferrari driver at the start of the following lap.

A second safety car was deployed with 12 laps remaining after Arvid Lindblad crashed his Racing Bulls following a collision with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

When racing resumed with seven laps to go, Antonelli ran behind Verstappen and Hamilton in a three-car train, with none of the drivers able to make a decisive move.
The trio crossed the finish line in close succession, with less than two seconds separating them.

-BBC

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