Max Verstappen won the 2026 Formula I Mexico City Grand Prix at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez, in front of 155,352 fans, bringing the total attendance for the weekend to 405,363 fans, on a day that saw Kimi Antonelli crowned as the sport’s youngest-ever World Champion.
Mexico produced yet another day of high drama: a first-lap clash between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc that cost Ferrari the race win, an opportunistic move by Verstappen to take advantage, two Safety Car interventions and, throughout it all, Antonelli keeping cool to claim the title at the age of 20 years and 68 days.
“We did it, we did it!”, said the tearful Italian – the first man from his country to win the World Championship since Alberto Ascari 73 years ago. I wouldn’t be here without Mercedes, without my family, so I’m very grateful for this moment – it’s one that will live forever.”
The 71-lap race hinged on the long run to Turn 1: starting fifth, Verstappen forced his Red Bull up into third for the first corner then pounced when Hamilton and Leclerc clashed at Turn 4, a move that cost Leclerc a five-second penalty.
Verstappen slotted into second place, bided his time and took the lead when the first pit stops began after 27 laps. He then managed the restart perfectly to keep Hamilton at bay after the race was halted for a heavy accident to Valtteri Bottas’s Cadillac after 46 laps.
“It was very hectic out there I think today, but the first start already made the race for me. It’s such a long run to Turn 1,” Verstappen explained after his third win of 2026 and the 74th of his F1 career. “That is always the tradition here into Turn 1, there are two cars fighting for the lead.
“I had a very good first lap and after that, we had a little bit different strategy. I did think we lacked a little bit of pace, but we made the right calls at the right time. The penalty of Charles put us into the lead and then you could see they were always staying with me. I was sweating at the end to try and keep Lewis behind.”
Between those two, Hamilton came home a gallant but frustrated second. “It’s been a tough day,” said the two-time Mexico winner. “I think we had the pace to win today but it wasn’t meant to be.” Sir Lewis had the minor satisfaction of setting the fastest lap of 1 minute 19.268 seconds, an average speed of 195.468 km/h, on lap 50 as he hunted Verstappen.
The man who started from his 105th F1 pole position was adamant that Leclerc should have been punished more heavily. “If you go off in Turn 1 you have to give the position back,” he insisted. “Last year I was given a 10-second penalty for that same move he did, but ultimately it was that that lost us the win today. We have to have some serious talks behind the scenes, for sure.”
While the podium welcomed three World Champions, a fourth was also left frustrated: Lando Norris’s McLaren got stuck behind George Russell’s Mercedes in the first part of the race, and then behind Leclerc’s Ferrari – hampered by a flat-spotted front left tire – in the second. Norris had to settle for fifth in a race he won last year.
The second Safety Car was triggered when Arvid Lindblad’s Racing Bulls ended up in the wall at Turn 2 following a collision with Oscar Piastri’s McLaren, the Australian fighting back well from his lowly 13th place on the grid to finish seventh in the second McLaren.
Russell overcame a 10-second penalty for nudging Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull off-track on the opening lap to bring the second Mercedes home sixth, while Alpine enjoyed another good day, with Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly eighth and 10th, sandwiching the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson between them.
As for Sergio Pérez, his 300th Grand Prix was overshadowed by the accident to team-mate Bottas, who was happily released from the Medical Centre soon after his Cadillac’s front left suspension broke and sent him into the barriers at Turn 1. Checo also incurred a five-second penalty for speeding in the Pit Lane and ended up last of the 17 cars who finished the race.
One of those 17 was Haas rookie Ryo Hirakawa, the 32-year-old Japanese driver producing a highly creditable 13th place on F1 race debut as replacement for Esteban Ocon.
But on an historic day for Mexico, which saw the World Champion crowned at AHR for the sixth time, and for the sport, the tributes to Antonelli flowed as freely as the tears and champagne.
“It’s been an incredible season and to share this podium with Max and Lewis is truly incredible – looking forward to some more battles in the future,” said Kimi. “This weekend I did feel a bit more tense but I’m just so happy that we got it done and now we can enjoy the rest of the season. Thank you so much, Mexico!”
“It’s incredible what a season he had,” said Verstappen. “To do that at such an age, it’s really, really impressive. It’s amazing to see the whole team of course celebrating with him, his family are here as well. I’m sure this is a very emotional day for him and I’m very proud of him.”
Hamilton had the last word, for the new champion, and for Mexico City: “Firstly, look at this crowd,” he beamed. “We have to acknowledge them, and huge congratulations to Kimi and the Mercedes team. It’s great to see them all up here celebrating their success. Youngest World Champion ever – it’s pretty phenomenal, and I’m so grateful to be in the race to witness it.”
2027 Poster
In addition to the on-track action, fans had the opportunity to discover the poster for the 2027 race, inspired by another great Mexican passion: music and mariachi. The new artwork draws a parallel between the synchronized movements of a mariachi band and those of a pit crew during a pit stop, highlighting the teamwork that is also at the heart of the Mexico GP.
