Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest-ever F1 World Champion as Max Verstappen wins eventful Mexico City Grand Prix

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Kimi Antonelli won his first Formula 1 World Championship in Mexico City after finishing third in Sunday’s 71-lap Mexico City Grand Prix at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Formula 1 reports that the Mercedes driver required only a ninth-place finish to secure the title, regardless of results for his rivals, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes team mate George Russell.

Antonelli started fourth and was able to convert that position into the result needed for the championship. He also had to manage a mid-race disruption following a heavy accident for Valtteri Bottas that triggered a red flag, before a late Safety Car came after a crash for Arvid Lindblad.

Max Verstappen delivered the race victory for Red Bull, taking the win after starting fifth on the grid. Formula 1 says Verstappen withstood late pressure from Hamilton to hold off the Mercedes challenge and secure his third win of the season in an event shaped by multiple interruptions.

On the race’s opening lap, Verstappen moved up to second, and the leadership shifted further when Charles Leclerc was given a time penalty for cutting the track while battling polesitter Hamilton. With that penalty applied, Verstappen took the lead and then kept it during the standing restart.

Verstappen maintained the front position when the Safety Car was recalled with eight laps remaining, with Hamilton continuing to threaten from behind. Despite the pressure, Verstappen held on, completing the sequence that began with an early overtake and culminated in victory.

Leclerc finished fourth, according to Formula 1, after fending off intense late pressure from Lando Norris of McLaren. George Russell placed fifth, while Oscar Piastri finished sixth, followed by Franco Colapinto in seventh.

The top 10 was completed by Liam Lawson, who finished from the pit lane, and Pierre Gasly, who brought the second Alpine home in tenth. Franco Colapinto’s recovery into the points underlined the high attrition and timing swings caused by the race’s late incidents.

Behind the leading finishers, Gabriel Bortoleto finished 11th for Audi, and Isack Hadjar placed 12th after Russell tipped him into a spin on the opening lap. Ryo Hirakawa finished 13th for Haas on his Formula 1 debut after a mid-weekend call-up.

Williams’ Alex Albon finished ahead of team mate Carlos Sainz, while Nico Hulkenberg was 16th after receiving a 10-second penalty for a collision with Ollie Bearman. Sergio Perez, racing for the Cadillac driver team, completed the classified runners in last position.

Two late retirements shaped the closing stage: Lindblad crashed out at Turn 2 after a late collision with Piastri, and Bearman retired after contact with Hulkenberg. Bottas also did not finish, along with both Aston Martins—Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso—each forced out due to separate retirements reported during the race.