F1’s Record-Breaking Mexico Grand Prix: Winners and Losers

Superlatives seem to be dwindling as Kimi Antonelli’s extraordinary rise to prominence during the 2026 season continues. At the Mexico Grand Prix, the new leader of Formula 1 received the celebration his campaign merited.

Winner: Kimi Antonelli

While Antonelli’s victory may have felt inevitable at this stage, it only accentuates the impressiveness of his accomplishment, rather than diminishing it.

It’s hard to reflect on his triumph without recalling the challenging rookie experience and the tough guidance he received from his team in 2025, particularly when there seemed to be a genuine concern that the Antonelli venture could falter by mid-season. Was it too strenuous for someone so young, too quickly?

These doubts were quickly dispelled this year as Antonelli achieved five straight victories, showcasing his dominance, including an unforgettable recovery drive from 19th place at his home race in Monza.

F1’s youngest world champions

Antonelli’s celebration in Mexico, in a car that is no longer the outright leader, was fitting for the moment. While most of his top competitors were engaged in fierce battles, Antonelli maintained a composed and understated race, with the only noteworthy excitement occurring when he overtook Charles Leclerc for third position following a red flag. This maneuver guaranteed that he would mark the occasion of his first title on the iconic podium in Mexico, amid the vibrant atmosphere of the Foro Sol stadium.

On a weekend where Mercedes didn’t hold the advantage, it was a fitting way to pen a new chapter in F1 history.

“On the final lap, I just eased off because I couldn’t really see the circuit. I was becoming emotional,” Antonelli recounted during his tear-filled title announcement. “I thought, ‘I’ll just take it easy now; otherwise, I might crash here.’

Kimi Antonelli shares an embrace with Toto Wolff

Winner: Mercedes

Antonelli’s achievement is certainly not his singularly; it reflects the extensive support of a vast team of engineers, mechanics, and other personnel from Brackley, Brixworth, and F1 paddocks across the globe. These are the components of a machine that faltered during the ground-effect era but came back strong as F1 adopted entirely new chassis and power unit regulations for 2026.

Special acknowledgment should be given to former Mercedes scouting leader Gwen Lagrue and Toto Wolff. Lagrue discovered Antonelli in karting and brought him into the Mercedes young driver program at the age of 12, while Wolff backed Antonelli’s promotion at the age of 18 to succeed Lewis Hamilton. His father, Marco, also played a crucial role at every stage leading to this point.

There were obstacles, setbacks, damaged carbon fiber components, and numerous tears from Antonelli during his teenage years. However, the Bologna native’s impressive evolution this year has proven it was all worthwhile.

Ferrari is facing “major issues.” This is echoed by none other than Lewis Hamilton himself. The British racer expressed frustration when his teammate Charles Leclerc’s off-track maneuver against him received only a mild five-second penalty, which was offset easily by racing in unencumbered air.

After finally securing his first Ferrari pole position and his first pole in F1 since 2023, Hamilton appeared poised for the grand prix victory due to his ability to pressure Max Verstappen in the closing laps, yet he could not find a way past on the straight, given Ferrari’s comparatively less powerful engine.

This is not the first clash among Ferrari drivers this season. Hamilton has insisted that the Scuderia needs to support him earlier in what has been an improbable title chase, and there have been other instances where it felt like he and Leclerc were racing harder against each other than they would against competitors from other teams.

Post-race, Hamilton called for “serious discussions,” and he is likely to see that happen. Fred Vasseur remarked in his media briefing following the race: “Drivers must show respect to the 2,000 personnel working for the team.”

Lewis Hamilton is demanding serious talks at Ferrari after his latest flashpoint with Charles Leclerc

Winner: Max Verstappen

There was an element of poetry in Antonelli – on his path to becoming arguably the top driver of his generation – sharing the podium with two of the best from prior generations: Verstappen and Hamilton.

While Hamilton may believe he should have claimed the win, this race also turned into a classic Verstappen triumph, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat while his competitors faltered.

When his car is performing as it should, Verstappen is indomitable. When it isn’t, as seen in Mexico City, he capitalizes on opportunities. This time, he managed to pass one half of the feuding Ferrari duo right off the bat, and the other during the sole green flag pitstop on lap 28 while Leclerc served his five-second penalty.

Once in the lead, Verstappen handled all the pressure and repelled Hamilton’s attempts, delivering a precise performance to secure his third win in just four races.

Although Antonelli’s and Mercedes’ lead was insurmountable, neutral and Dutch spectators will be eagerly anticipating the potential for a fresh start in the 2027 season, given that recent races have seen four top teams separated by only three to four tenths.

When team principal Marcin Budkowski joined the team this summer, he quickly identified some of the compromises Cadillac had to make to enter the F1 grid in the first place, highlighting a major vulnerability in reliability and parts consistency.

“Several shortcuts have been taken, which is unavoidable when establishing a new team in such a limited time frame,” he noted in September. “The focus has to be on areas needing more work. In the short term, reliability is critical. We’ve faced challenges in that department and must enhance operational excellence to reach the level expected of a top team today.”

Mexico showcased this issue once more, with both Sergio Perez and a sluggish Valtteri Bottas needing to navigate early troubles, and Bottas ultimately crashing out due to a front-left suspension failure that sent him into the Turn 1 barriers. He was fortunate to avoid injury, but as Cadillac gears up for the 2027 season, this serves as another wake-up call for F1’s 11th team that standards will need to improve significantly.

Bottas’s position may be precarious with Colton Herta poised on the sidelines, and his recent performances haven’t helped his case. However, for now, Cadillac’s concern lies not with its drivers. He may be owed a full season in a vehicle that is consistently drivable and reliable.

Valtteri Bottas “pretty confident” of staying for F1 2027 amid Colton Herta rumours

If this is it for Valtteri Bottas, then the Finn deserved better than a dysfunctional Cadillac debut car

Loser: Honda

There is little more to add about Aston Martin and Honda, but it feels harsh and alarming that the year commenced with a car that could barely complete consecutive laps in Australia, and now, 17 races later, we find ourselves back in the same predicament.

While an overnight improvement in power unit performance was unrealistic, it seemed reasonable to anticipate that Honda would have made more significant gains in reliability, as this is no way to approach racing.

“I’m doing everything I can,” a dejected Fernando Alonso said after parking his Aston Martin just six laps in, due to what was labeled as “abnormal pressure levels in the PU systems.” His teammate Lance Stroll had to stop shortly after.

“Every lap I complete, every morning I wake, every preparation I do, the food I consume, everything is aimed at performing to the best of my abilities behind the wheel, but I’m unable to get in enough laps.”

F1 Mexico GP: Kimi Antonelli clinches world title as Max Verstappen holds off Lewis Hamilton for victory

Emotional Kimi Antonelli left “speechless” by maiden F1 world title in Mexico

Lewis Hamilton demands “serious talks” at Ferrari after Charles Leclerc clash

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