Brief

Antonelli could clinch F1 title with ninth‑place finish in Mexico

The 20‑year‑old Mercedes driver can win the 2026 championship with a ninth‑place finish in Mexico, breaking multiple records.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sun, 01 Nov 2026 17:42:24 GMT

Kimi Antonelli, the 20‑year‑old Mercedes driver, needs only a ninth‑place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday to become the youngest Formula One world champion, Gulf News reported.

Starting fourth on the grid at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Antonelli would secure the title even without scoring points if neither teammate George Russell nor Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton wins the race.

At 20 years and 68 days old, a championship would eclipse Sebastian Vettel's record as the youngest champion; Vettel was 23 years and 134 days old when he won in 2010. Antonelli would also be the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953 and the first born in the 2000s, having been born on 25 August 2006.

The win would mark the first time an Italian has claimed the title with a non‑Italian team, as previous Italian champions drove for Alfa Romeo or Ferrari. It would also deliver Mercedes its first drivers' championship since Lewis Hamilton's 2020 triumph.

Antonelli would join a select group of drivers who have won the championship in their second season, alongside Hamilton and Jacques Villeneuve. He has already become the sport's youngest pole‑sitter and championship leader during the 2026 season.

Key facts

Antonelli needs a ninth-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix to clinch the 2026 F1 title. (gulfnews.com)
He would become the youngest champion at 20 years and 68 days, beating Sebastian Vettel's record. (gulfnews.com)
A title would make him the first Italian champion since 1953 and the first born in the 2000s. (gulfnews.com)
Mercedes would win its first drivers' championship since 2020. (gulfnews.com)