F1

2026 Mexican Grand Prix: History Made at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez

Published

3 hours ago

November 1, 2026

2026 Mexican Grand Prix: History Made at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez as Kimi Antonelli Crowned World Champion

The high-altitude thrill of Mexico City delivered an unforgettable weekend of Formula 1 action. Max Verstappen claimed a masterful victory for Red Bull Racing, but all eyes were on Mercedes prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who secured his maiden Drivers’ World Championship to become the youngest champion in F1 history.

Qualifying Session Overview & Grid Setup

Saturday’s qualifying session produced a thrilling battle across the board at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton put together a stunning lap to grab pole position ($1:16.514$), beating Mercedes’ George Russell by just $0.009$ seconds. Charles Leclerc rounded out a strong showing for the Scuderia in 3rd ($1:16.633$).
Mercedes AMG: George Russell lined up 2nd on the front row ($1:16.523$), while title leader Kimi Antonelli qualified in a solid 4th position ($1:16.707$).
Red Bull Racing: Max Verstappen spearheaded the Red Bull effort in 5th place ($1:16.692$).
McLaren: Lando Norris started 6th ($1:16.824$), while teammate Oscar Piastri struggled to find clean air, qualifying down in 12th ($1:17.646$).
Racing Bulls: Isack Hadjar put on an impressive display to land 7th ($1:16.900$), while rookie Arvid Lindblad locked in 8th ($1:17.117$). Liam Lawson took a grid penalty and started from 22nd ($1:17.029$).
Alpine: Pierre Gasly secured 9th ($1:17.153$), while Franco Colapinto slotted into 11th ($1:17.640$).
Audi: Nico Hülkenberg qualified 10th ($1:17.306$), with teammate Gabriel Bortoleto in 13th ($1:17.680$).
Haas: Oliver Bearman lined up 14th ($1:18.083$).
Williams: Carlos Sainz Jr. placed 15th ($1:18.885$) and Alex Albon started 16th ($1:18.630$).
Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso managed 17th ($1:18.908$), and Lance Stroll qualified 19th ($1:19.072$).
Cadillac: Ryō Hirakawa filled in for 18th place ($1:18.958$), Sergio Pérez lined up 20th ($1:19.105$), and Valtteri Bottas started 21st ($1:19.852$).

2026 Mexican GP Full Race Report

The 71-lap race erupted into drama right off the line. Pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton led into Turn 1, but a brilliant slipstream strategy from Max Verstappen allowed the Dutchman to slice past both George Russell and Charles Leclerc through the opening complex to move into second.

Key Incidents, Retirements, and Accidents

Aston Martin Double DNF (Lap 5): The high-altitude cooling proved fatal for Aston Martin. Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were forced to retire their cars in the pits early due to overheating power unit components.
Cadillac Breakdown (Lap 42): Valtteri Bottas suffered an engine failure coming through the Foro Sol stadium section, parking his Cadillac on the main straight and bringing out a brief Virtual Safety Car.
Haas Suspension Failure (Lap 47): Oliver Bearman clipped the high kerbs heavily at the S-curves, snapping his front-right suspension and sending him into the barrier for a race-ending collision.
Racing Bulls Crash (Lap 58): Arvid Lindblad, running strong inside the points, suffered a high-speed lockup into Turn 12, crashing into the Tecpro barriers.

Race Finish & Victory

Through clever tyre management during the VSC period, Max Verstappen executed a clean undercut strategy on Lewis Hamilton to take the lead on Lap 50. Verstappen controlled the pace across the final stint to win the Mexican Grand Prix by 0.799 seconds ahead of Hamilton.

Crucially, Andrea Kimi Antonelli drove a mature, calculated race. Crossing the line in 3rd place, Antonelli picked up 15 championship points—more than enough to mathematically secure his world title.

Mexican GP Race Points Distribution

Position	Driver	Team	Race Points
1	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing	25
2	Lewis Hamilton	Scuderia Ferrari	18
3	Andrea Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes AMG	15
4	Charles Leclerc	Scuderia Ferrari	12
5	Lando Norris	McLaren	10
6	George Russell	Mercedes AMG	8
7	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	6
8	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	4
9	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	2
10	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	1

A New Era Begins: Kimi Antonelli, 2026 World Champion

At just 20 years, 2 months, and 7 days old, Andrea Kimi Antonelli has shattered the record held by Sebastian Vettel since 2010 to become the youngest Drivers’ World Champion in Formula 1 history. Having stepped straight into the Mercedes cockpit as a rookie to replace Lewis Hamilton, the young Italian showed remarkable composure throughout 2026, amassing 9 victories and 15 podium finishes over the course of an extraordinary campaign. His title coronation in Mexico City marks the dawn of a sensational new era in international motorsport.

World Championship Tables After Mexico GP

F1 Drivers’ Championship Table

Pos	Driver	Team	Points
1	Andrea Kimi Antonelli (C)	Mercedes AMG	365
2	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing	261
3	Lewis Hamilton	Scuderia Ferrari	259
4	George Russell	Mercedes AMG	250
5	Charles Leclerc	Scuderia Ferrari	245
6	Lando Norris	McLaren	221
7	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	150
8	Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls	105
9	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	79
10	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	43
11	Arvid Lindblad	Racing Bulls	38
12	Franco Colapinto	Alpine	31
13	Oliver Bearman	Haas	23
14	Nico Hülkenberg	Audi	13
15	Gabriel Bortoleto	Audi	10
16	Esteban Ocon	Haas	7
17	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	7
18	Carlos Sainz Jr.	Williams	7
19	Alex Albon	Williams	5
20	Yuki Tsunoda	Racing Bulls	1
21	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	0
22	Valtteri Bottas	Cadillac	0
23	Sergio Pérez	Cadillac	0

F1 Constructors’ Championship Table

Pos	Constructor	Points
1	Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team	615
2	Scuderia Ferrari	504
3	Red Bull Racing	380
4	McLaren F1 Team	371
5	Racing Bulls	223
6	Alpine F1 Team	74
7	Haas F1 Team	30
8	Audi F1 Team	23
9	Williams Racing	12
10	Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team	7
11	Cadillac Formula 1 Team	0

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F1

2026 Formula One Championship: F1 News, Schedule and How to Follow

Published

2 months ago

August 21, 2026

Peter Johnson

formula one car — Photo by Jonathan Borba on Pexels

Formula One is back, and the 2026 championship is already producing the kind of drama that keeps British fans glued to the action. A headline-grabbing driver move, a long-term contract announcement and a sprint weekend at Zandvoort are all part of the story this season. With Lewis Hamilton now racing for Ferrari and Max Verstappen locked into Red Bull, the 2026 Formula One Championship has plenty of big names fighting at the front. Here is a summary of the key storylines and the best ways to follow F1 this season.

What Is Formula One?

Formula One, usually shortened to F1, is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel, single-seater formula racing cars. The championship is run by the Formula One Group and is widely regarded as the most prestigious motor racing competition in the world. Drivers and teams compete in a series of Grands Prix across the season, accumulating points that decide both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles. The sport has a strong following in the UK, and there is no shortage of ways to keep track of every race, from live timing to expert analysis.

The 2026 Championship So Far

The official F1 channels have described 2026 as “the home of risk takers, late brakers and history makers”, and the season so far has lived up to that reputation. Max Verstappen and Red Bull currently sit 50 points clear at the front, according to the official F1 social channels, giving the team a useful cushion as the campaign heads towards Zandvoort. With the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc pushing hard at Ferrari, the battle behind Red Bull is attracting plenty of attention from fans and pundits alike.

Hamilton and Ferrari Set the Pace at Zandvoort

The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort is the current focus of the 2026 calendar, with the event running from Friday 21 August to Sunday 23 August. Lewis Hamilton made an early statement in first practice, topping the timesheets for Ferrari with a lap of 1:13.139. Charles Leclerc finished second, an encouraging sign for Ferrari fans as the weekend builds towards Sunday’s race. The Zandvoort weekend uses the sprint format, which means extra competitive sessions. The timetable looks like this:

Practice 1: Friday 21 August, 11:30 am
Sprint Qualifying: Friday 21 August, 3:30 pm
Sprint: Saturday 22 August
Dutch Grand Prix: Sunday 23 August

Verstappen Commits to Red Bull Long Term

Max Verstappen’s future has been confirmed, with the Dutch driver staying at Red Bull Racing for 2027 and remaining part of the Red Bull family until at least 2030. That gives Red Bull stability at the top of its driver line-up and removes any doubt about its leader heading into the next stage of the season. Verstappen and Red Bull sit 50 points clear at the front, according to official F1 channels, and a strong result at Zandvoort would extend that advantage further. For neutrals, the combination of Verstappen in Red Bull and Hamilton at Ferrari makes the 2026 title race a compelling watch.

grand prix crowd — Photo by Jonathan Borba on Pexels

How to Follow F1 in 2026

Keeping up with the 2026 Formula One Championship is straightforward, whatever your preferred platform. The official Formula 1 website is the go-to source for the latest F1 news, video highlights, GP results, live timing, in-depth analysis and expert commentary. BBC Sport also covers F1 extensively, with the latest news stories, results, fixtures, video and audio available to UK audiences. Sky Sports publishes the full 2026 schedule and provides live coverage of practice, qualifying and race sessions. The official F1 YouTube channel offers highlights and original series such as “Grill the Grid”, while the sport’s Instagram and Facebook pages share regular updates, including championship standings and driver announcements.

More Than Just Race Day

Formula One offers fans plenty of ways to get involved beyond the Grands Prix themselves. The official F1 website includes dedicated sections for fantasy F1, gaming, the F1 Awards and F1 betting, giving supporters a chance to test their knowledge and follow the season in different ways. There is also a “New to F1?” page on the official site, which covers the basics of the sport, from drivers and teams to how the championship works. With so much content available across websites, broadcasters and social media, there is something for every kind of F1 fan in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some of the most common questions about the 2026 Formula One Championship.

What is Formula One?

Formula One, or F1, is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel, single-seater formula racing cars. The championship is run by the Formula One Group and is widely regarded as the world’s most prestigious motor racing competition. Each season, drivers and teams compete in Grands Prix around the world, with points deciding the champions.

When is the Dutch Grand Prix in 2026?

The Dutch Grand Prix takes place at Zandvoort from Friday 21 August to Sunday 23 August 2026. It is a sprint weekend, so there is extra on-track action. Practice 1 starts at 11:30 am on Friday, Sprint Qualifying follows at 3:30 pm, the Sprint runs on Saturday 22 August, and the Grand Prix itself takes place on Sunday.

How can I follow F1 news and results in 2026?

The official Formula 1 website offers the latest F1 news, video highlights, GP results, live timing and expert commentary. BBC Sport provides news stories, results, fixtures, video and audio for UK audiences, while Sky Sports carries the full 2026 schedule and live session coverage. The F1 YouTube channel adds highlights and original shows such as Grill the Grid.

Is Max Verstappen staying at Red Bull?

Yes. Max Verstappen is confirmed at Red Bull Racing for 2027 and is part of the Red Bull family until at least 2030. According to the official F1 social channels, Verstappen and Red Bull currently sit 50 points clear at the front.