Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest ever F1 world champion at Mexico City

Kimi Antonelli won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship on Sunday in Mexico City. At age 20, he is the youngest driver in the sport's history to hold the title. He secured the lead with a few months remaining in his rookie season.

The race took place at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, situated 7,350 feet above sea level. The high altitude reduces air density, which cuts engine power and limits downforce. Wings that would generate heavy grip at Monaco circuits produce only modest force here. Cars also struggle to cool their radiators due to reduced airflow. The track features a long straight into turn one and a section that winds through a stadium built in the 1990s.

Ferrari won the race on paper, but the team gave the victory to Red Bull. This marked another instance this season where Ferrari failed to convert a performance advantage into a win. The thin air at the circuit may have influenced driver decisions, contributing to the outcome.

Chaos unfolded further down the grid. Both Aston Martin cars retired in a synchronized manner. A Cadillac Racing car lost its wheels during the event. The Haas team made a last-minute driver change.

Cadillac Racing is working to qualify Colton Herta, an IndyCar star, for an F1 seat. Herta needs a total of 40 points over three years to earn a super license. He has not yet met the threshold. His IndyCar results were inconsistent, placing 10th in 2023, 2nd in 2024, and 7th in 2025. He entered the F2 championship this year to learn the circuits and accumulate the required points.

On Friday, ten rookie drivers substituted for regular drivers in practice sessions. Teams are required to run a young or test driver in each of their two cars at least twice during the season. Cadillac required six such appearances, according to the source notes.