Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy celebrates with his team after clinching the world championship at the Formula One Mexico Grand Prix in Mexico City, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Italian Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest ever Formula 1 world champion with a third-place finish at the Mexican Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver is also the first Italian to take the title since 1953. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished first while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was second in a race that had been red-flagged and restarted again due to multiple crashes and an agonising 33-minute halt with 25 of the 71 laps remaining.

“I’m speechless. I’m trying to process what has just happened,” said Antonelli in comments to the crowd. “It’s been an incredible season, and to share this podium with Max and Lewis is truly incredible. And looking forward to some more battles in the future.…