Kimi Antonelli Clinches F1 Championship in Mexico

Kimi Antonelli secured his first Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship with a third-place finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The result placed him on the podium alongside Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

Antonelli faced significant challenges during the race, as his car’s engine began to struggle toward the end. Mercedes Deputy Team Principal Bradley Lord revealed that the car’s sump cracked, and Antonelli reported feeling the engine’s strain around four laps from the finish.

Despite the mechanical issues, Antonelli managed to finish the race and secure his championship. His performance was highlighted by a daring overtake of Charles Leclerc, which placed him on the podium. Lord described the move as one of the cleanest in the race, executed on the brakes and through the apex of Turn 1.

Lord also noted Antonelli’s remarkable progress from his rookie season to becoming a World Champion in just his second year in Formula 1. He outlined three distinct phases of Antonelli’s season, including a period of struggle with confidence after a suspension change, followed by a strong recovery with the support of his team and engineer Bono.

Antonelli’s ability to adapt and learn from different challenges was praised by Lord, who highlighted the speed at which Antonelli integrated lessons from the three phases of the season. This preparation allowed him to start the new season strongly, as seen in his performance at the opening race in Melbourne.

With the championship secured, Antonelli and Mercedes now focus on the Constructors’ Championship, which could be clinched with a double-podium finish at the São Paulo Grand Prix.