MEXICO CITY — Kimi Antonelli won the Mexico City Grand Prix at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Sunday, clinching the 2026 Formula One drivers' championship for Mercedes. At 20, he became the youngest world champion in the sport's history.

Antonelli arrived in Mexico with 365 points, 123 clear of his teammate George Russell on 242, with five rounds remaining. Championship calculations published by Formula One showed that a ninth-place finish would have been enough to settle the title. He removed any doubt by taking the chequered flag first, putting the crown beyond reach of every rival.

The Bologna-born driver broke the record set by Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 years and 134 days old when he won the 2010 title with Red Bull. Antonelli also became the first Italian drivers' champion since Alberto Ascari won his second consecutive title for Ferrari in 1953. Mercedes, which promoted him to its race seat in 2025 to replace Lewis Hamilton, has dominated the opening season of the sport's new engine and chassis regulations.

Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, said the title justified the team's decision to place a teenager in one of the most scrutinised seats in motorsport. The Italian Automobile Club congratulated Antonelli in a statement, describing the result as a historic day for Italian motorsport. Russell, who was left to contest the runner-up position, congratulated his teammate in parc fermé.

The season continues with the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos next weekend, followed by races in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Mercedes will now turn its attention to securing the constructors' championship, which its drivers' combined points total has left largely within reach.