Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli clinched Formula 1’s 2026 title in Mexico City, becoming the sport’s youngest champion and prompting teammate George Russell to reflect on his own difficult season.
Antonelli secured the drivers’ championship with third place at the Nov. 1 Mexico City Grand Prix, with four rounds remaining in the season. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) called him the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history. Mercedes said he was 20 years and 68 days old and the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
Russell finished sixth in Mexico City. Mercedes said he lost several places when his car failed to deploy power properly as he approached Turn 1 on the opening lap. FIA stewards imposed a 10-second penalty on Russell for causing a collision with Isack Hadjar at Turn 6.
In a Nov. 2 Instagram post, Russell congratulated Antonelli, writing, “You truly deserve the Championship.” Formula 1 published a transcript of the post.
Russell said the season had started as he hoped but later brought poor performances and bad luck. He described 2026 as a year with more difficult days than good ones and wrote, “2026 was not meant to be my year.” He said he would keep working through the remaining races and into the next season to rediscover the performance he believed he could produce for most of his career.
Mercedes said it remained focused on the constructors’ championship. The Brazilian Grand Prix is next on the schedule.
