VERSTAPPEN CAPITALISES ON FERRARI FEUD TO WIN IN MEXICO AS ANTONELLI TAKES TITLE

Verstappen turned Ferrari's opening-lap implosion into his third win of the season in Mexico City, as Andrea Kimi Antonelli claimed the championship and became F1's youngest-ever world champion. Teammates Leclerc and Hamilton tangled at turn four on lap one—both went off, Leclerc cut back ahead and drew a five-second penalty that proved irrelevant. Verstappen capitalized, jumping Hamilton in the chaos and taking the lead when both Ferraris pitted together on lap 28.

A red flag for Bottas's suspension failure paused racing for 40 minutes. On the restart, Leclerc botched the getaway from second, letting Hamilton attack Verstappen into turn one. They made contact, but Verstappen controlled the rest. Antonelli passed a struggling Leclerc—who'd flat-spotted his tire—to secure third and the title. Leclerc clung to fourth over Norris despite the damage. Ferrari had the speed for a lockout but self-destructed, handing Verstappen the win while Antonelli's coronation writes the sport's next chapter.