Antonelli Claims 2026 F1 Title in Mexico City as Mercedes W17 Proves Decisive

Kimi Antonelli has secured the 2026 Formula 1 drivers' world championship in Mexico City, becoming the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari 73 years earlier. The 20-year-old from Bologna drove a Mercedes W17 that his team had developed under an unconventional strategy.

Rather than introducing a steady stream of upgrades as most rivals did, Mercedes began the season with a car whose aerodynamic and mechanical solutions were already relatively mature. This allowed the team to focus on optimising its power unit, particularly electrical energy deployment, and to establish a clearer picture of its advantage over the competition.

The approach placed particular demands on the drivers, who had to adapt to the car's existing characteristics. Antonelli consistently extracted lap times beyond the reach of his rivals, with team-mate George Russell producing occasional standout performances.