Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 Drivers' Championship after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix on 1 Nov, making him the youngest champion in the sport's history. The race, won by Max Verstappen with Lewis Hamilton second, was delayed for more than 40 minutes following Valtteri Bottas’s crash. Antonelli’s result left rivals George Russell and Hamilton unable to catch him, ending a 73‑year title drought for Italy. He drives for Mercedes and clinched the title with four races still to run.
Lewis Hamilton
3 stories since 31 October 2026, newest first
2 November 2026
1 November 2026
Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the Mexico City Grand Prix, edging George Russell by 0.009 seconds for Ferrari's first pole with Hamilton. It is his 105th career pole and first on a grand prix grid since July 2023. Charles Leclerc qualified third, 0.119 seconds back, with Max Verstappen fourth after a one-place grid penalty for a collision with Liam Lawson. Kimi Antonelli starts fourth and needs a ninth-place finish on Sunday to become the youngest Formula One world champion. Oscar Piastri failed to reach the final qualifying session and will start 13th.
31 October 2026
Kimi Antonelli stands on the brink of clinching the Formula One drivers' championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix, needing a top‑nine finish to seal the title. He enters the race with a 123‑point lead and has won half of the season’s 18 events. A victory would make him the first Italian champion since 1953 and break the record for the youngest title‑winner. Mercedes also eyes the constructors' crown, while Antonelli missed Thursday’s media duties due to a viral infection.