Kimi Antonelli clinched the 2026 title in Mexico City at 20 years and 68 days old, obliterating Sebastian Vettel's youngest-champion record by more than three years. The Mercedes driver only needed third — behind race winner Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton — to seal his first championship at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Verstappen, who jumped to second in the standings with the win, was effusive afterward. "It's incredible what a season he had," the Dutchman told Nico Rosberg. "To do that at such an age, I think it's really impressive. I'm very proud of him."
Antonelli's coronation caps a stunning debut campaign. He arrived at Mercedes with crushing expectations and answered every question. Verstappen's victory reshuffled the order behind him: the Dutchman now has 261 points, Hamilton third with 259, Russell fourth at 250, Leclerc fifth with 245. Antonelli's already champion. The rest are racing for second.
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