Kimi Antonelli lost two seconds as tears blurred Mexico last lap

Kimi Antonelli said emotion compromised his vision and cost him around two seconds in the closing stages of the Mexico City Grand Prix, as he finished third after a late move on Charles Leclerc.

Antonelli had arrived needing only ninth place to become Formula 1’s youngest champion. He stayed clear of trouble at the start and remained in the fight for a podium before passing Leclerc near the end. The result came with the significance of a championship opportunity weighing heavily on him.

Tears made the final lap difficult to see

Antonelli explained that he had already lost time on the lap before the finish, when tears began to affect his ability to see the track clearly. He could make out the two Ferraris ahead, but said his view was blurred.

Memories from his karting days and the journey to Formula 1 came back to him as he approached the chequered flag. Once he crossed it, he let his emotions go, describing the moment as the fulfilment of one of his biggest dreams.

The title stakes had been building around the teenager, with Kimi Raikkonen backing Antonelli to become the youngest F1 world champion. In Mexico, the focus shifted from predictions to a deeply personal finish: Antonelli said the final lap was special despite the difficulty of keeping his eyes on the circuit.

Leclerc pass proved crucial amid temperature concerns

Antonelli’s race had offered the prospect of a higher finish. He extended his first stint on soft tyres for more than 40 laps and said the pace remained strong. After pitting, he felt the tyre advantage gave him a chance to catch the leaders.

A red flag then reset the situation, with the field able to take fresh tyres. Antonelli remained in contention, but managing temperatures limited how hard he could push. He said brake temperatures required particular attention, while the pace among the leading cars made it difficult to follow closely.

That made the move on Leclerc into Turn 1 especially important. Antonelli called the overtake critical as he secured third. His Spanish Grand Prix victory had already marked another major moment in his season; in Mexico, the final laps brought a different test, with emotion and race management shaping the run to the line.