Antonelli clinches 2026 F1 title with third in Mexico City

Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 Formula 1 drivers’ championship with a third-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix, becoming the youngest title winner in the sport’s history. Max Verstappen won the race, with Lewis Hamilton second and Antonelli third. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver clinched the title in his second Formula 1 season. He needed to finish ninth or higher to secure the championship, and his podium result ensured the outcome was settled before the season’s remaining races. A race-results report said the event was stopped after a heavy crash; four other drivers retired, with crash, damage and technical issues listed as causes. Mercedes’ constructors’ championship remains undecided. The team holds a 126-point lead over Ferrari heading into the São Paulo Grand Prix. One account says Mercedes would secure the title by outscoring Ferrari by three points, reaching a 129-point lead, while another says four points at the race would guarantee the championship. The title calculation described in the first account also factors in Mercedes’ 12 race wins against Ferrari’s two, and says the championship could continue to Qatar if Mercedes does not meet the required margin...