Mexico City, 1 November: Kimi Antonelli became Formula One’s youngest world champion on Sunday when he finished third at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Max Verstappen won the race for Red Bull, with Lewis Hamilton second for Ferrari.
The Mercedes driver is 20 years and 68 days old, and takes the record for the youngest champion from Sebastian Vettel. He is the first Italian to win the drivers’ title since Alberto Ascari in 1953. The race finished in the early hours of Monday, India time.
Antonelli needed a top-nine finish in Mexico after he won the United States Grand Prix in Austin a week earlier, and he crossed the line 4.006 seconds behind Verstappen.
Verstappen’s sixth Mexico win
Verstappen started fifth. Red Bull brought him in for his pit stop to take the lead from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who had a penalty, and he made a strong getaway at the restart after a red flag. The stoppage set up a 25-lap sprint to the finish, and Verstappen held off Hamilton.
“Ferrari were fast but we executed everything well today, so it was amazing to get the win,” Verstappen said. He also congratulated Antonelli, saying the Italian had made barely any mistakes all season.
It was Verstappen’s sixth win in Mexico and his third in the last four races. The result moves him up to second in the drivers’ standings, 119 points behind Antonelli.
Hadjar and Audi pair miss out
Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar was hit by George Russell on the opening lap and dropped to the back. He fought his way back up the order but missed the points by less than a second.
At Audi, Gabriel Bortoleto finished just outside the points after very little running in practice, while Nico Hulkenberg finished 16th. Hulkenberg apologised to Haas after getting too close to one of their cars into Turn 4 at the second start and being unable to stop in time.
The championship moves to Brazil next, Bortoleto’s home race.
