Max Verstappen claimed his third win of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Mexico City Grand Prix, holding off Lewis Hamilton in a dramatic race that also saw Kimi Antonelli crowned the sport's youngest-ever World Champion.
The Red Bull driver started fifth at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez but capitalised on a costly opening-lap battle between Ferrari teammates Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to take control of the race. Verstappen ultimately crossed the line just 0.799 seconds ahead of Hamilton, while Antonelli secured third place to clinch his maiden Drivers' Championship.
Ferrari's internal battle became one of the biggest talking points of the afternoon, with Hamilton left furious after what he felt was a missed opportunity for the Scuderia to secure a one-two finish.
Hamilton started from pole position and initially held the advantage, but Leclerc challenged his teammate through the opening corners. Both Ferraris ran wide while fighting for the lead, with Leclerc cutting across the circuit to emerge ahead.
The stewards subsequently handed Leclerc a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. However, the incident allowed Verstappen to move ahead of Hamilton, with the Dutchman then taking the lead when Ferrari's penalty situation played out during the pit stops.
Hamilton was left frustrated by the decision not to immediately instruct Leclerc to surrender the position. The seven-time World Champion believed Ferrari had the pace to secure both first and second place, but instead found himself fighting Verstappen for victory.
The race featured further drama when Valtteri Bottas suffered a heavy crash following a suspension failure, prompting a red flag. A later Safety Car period followed a collision between Oscar Piastri and Arvid Lindblad, setting up a tense closing phase.
Verstappen held his nerve through both restarts, resisting Hamilton's late pressure to secure a valuable victory. The result also moved him two points ahead of Hamilton in the battle for second place in the Drivers' Championship. While it was another impressive drive from the Dutchman, the day ultimately belonged to Antonelli.
The Mercedes driver arrived in Mexico City needing only a ninth-place finish to guarantee the championship, regardless of where his closest rivals finished. Starting fourth, the 20-year-old delivered a composed performance to secure third and confirm his place in Formula 1 history.
Antonelli's triumph makes him the youngest World Champion the sport has ever seen, breaking Sebastian Vettel's previous record. His title success also marks a significant milestone for Mercedes, with the Italian delivering the Drivers' Championship after a season of consistently strong performances. Needless to say, champagne and tears soon flowed in Mexico City!