Mexican Grand Prix Review

Winner

Max Verstappen won the Mexican Grand Prix.

Full classification

What happened

The 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix was a race decided as much by attrition and strategy as by outright pace, with Max Verstappen expertly navigating the chaos to take victory. However, the biggest story of the day was Kimi Antonelli, whose calm and collected drive to third place was enough to crown him Formula 1's youngest-ever World Champion. The day also saw a dramatic implosion for the Aston Martin team and a significant mid-race red flag that reshaped the final act.

A Race of Two Halves

The early phase of the race belonged to Ferrari. After starting third, Charles Leclerc challenged polesitter and teammate Lewis Hamilton into the first corners. An intense battle into Turn 4 saw both drivers run wide, with Leclerc cutting across Turn 5 to take the lead. This move, however, earned him a five-second penalty from the stewards for gaining an advantage. The squabble allowed Max Verstappen, who started fifth, to slip past Hamilton into second place, a decisive moment that ultimately put him in position to control the race.

The race was quickly neutralized just a few laps in. The Aston Martin team's weekend went from bad to worse in spectacular fashion, with both cars retiring within the first seven laps. Fernando Alonso was called into the pits to retire on lap five, a repeat of the MGU-K issue that plagued his qualifying session. Just two laps later, Lance Stroll pulled his car to a halt at Turn 6, triggering a Virtual Safety Car. The team later confirmed both cars were retired due to "abnormal pressure levels in the PU systems".

Strategy became paramount as the first pit stops began. Red Bull reacted instantly when Leclerc pitted on lap 27 to serve his penalty, bringing Verstappen in on the same lap. The quick thinking and Leclerc's stationary penalty allowed Verstappen to emerge with the lead. The race was then thrown into disarray on lap 46 when Valtteri Bottas suffered a sudden front-left suspension failure while braking for Turn 1. The resulting heavy impact with the barriers brought out the Safety Car, which was soon upgraded to a red flag to allow for barrier repairs.

Antonelli's Championship Moment

While the leaders battled, Kimi Antonelli drove a measured race. Needing only a ninth-place finish to secure the title, the Mercedes rookie stayed out of the opening lap drama. A long first stint saw him extend his tyre life, pitting on lap 43, just before the red flag. This strategy, combined with his clean driving, allowed him to remain in contention. After the standing restart on lap 47, Antonelli made a crucial move on Leclerc for third place and held it to the finish, sealing his maiden championship with a podium celebration.

The final classification saw significant changes even after the chequered flag. Oscar Piastri, who had finished seventh, was given a 10-second penalty for a collision with Arvid Lindblad that put the Racing Bulls driver out of the race on lap 59. Further penalties for yellow flag infringements dropped both Alpine drivers, Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly, out of the points, promoting others up the order.

For the home crowd, it was a day of mixed emotions. Sergio Pérez, celebrating his 300th Grand Prix start, had a combative race from the back of the grid, but equipment issues during a pit stop hampered his progress, leaving him to finish in 17th.

The race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez leaves an open question for future events: while Verstappen's win was a masterclass in seizing opportunity, Antonelli's title-winning strategy highlights a different path to success at this high-altitude challenge. The combination of high attrition and strategic gambles proved that raw pace isn't the only ingredient for a top result in Mexico City.

Full Race Classification

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
5. Lando Norris (McLaren)
6. George Russell (Mercedes)
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
8. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
11. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
12. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull Racing)
13. Ryo Hirakawa (Haas)
14. Alexander Albon (Williams)
15. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
16. Nico Hülkenberg (Audi)
17. Sergio Pérez (Cadillac)
DNF. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
DNF. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
DNF. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
DNF. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
DNF. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)