Verstappen withstands Hamilton charge as Antonelli clinches F1 crown

Max Verstappen held off a late challenge from Lewis Hamilton to win the Mexico City Grand Prix, while third place was enough for Kimi Antonelli to secure the 2026 drivers’ championship. Hamilton and George Russell both needed a victory to keep the title contest alive; neither managed it.

The race featured a first-lap clash, a lengthy stoppage and a late safety car, with Verstappen keeping control when it mattered most. Antonelli completed the podium and became Formula 1’s youngest world champion. His achievement adds a new chapter to the youngest-champion discussion around Antonelli.

First-lap disorder reshapes the fight at the front

Hamilton launched well from pole and led into Turn 1, with Charles Leclerc close behind. The pair fought into Turn 4. Leclerc went off at the next turn and rejoined at the front, while Hamilton returned behind Verstappen in third. Leclerc later served a five-second penalty, and Russell received a 10-second penalty after contact spun Isack Hadjar.

The race settled before both Aston Martins retired on lap seven. Pit stops then shuffled the order: Verstappen stopped on lap 27 and switched from mediums to softs, while Hamilton pitted one lap later and rejoined behind his team-mate. Antonelli made his stop on lap 43, returning to the track in fourth.

Two laps later, Valtteri Bottas suffered a front-left suspension failure and hit the barrier at Turn 1. The resulting red flag gave crews time to repair the barriers, delaying the restart by 40 minutes.

Verstappen holds firm after the restart

The race resumed with a standing start. Verstappen led away, with Hamilton pressing and Leclerc behind. Antonelli moved past Leclerc on the following lap. Oliver Bearman later retired after contact with Nico Hulkenberg, who was penalised.

Verstappen built a gap of more than a second before a safety car erased it. Arvid Lindblad had crashed at Turn 2 after contact with Oscar Piastri. The safety car came in at the end of lap 62, leaving nine laps to run.

Verstappen chose to restart after the stadium section. Hamilton stayed close but could not get near enough to attack, and the Red Bull driver secured the win. Antonelli followed him and Hamilton across the line to seal the title. The result completes the story of Antonelli’s championship challenge.

Leclerc finished fourth, ahead of Lando Norris, Russell, Piastri, Franco Colapinto, Liam Lawson and Pierre Gasly.