A ninth-place finish will do it. Kimi Antonelli can wrap up the 2026 Formula 1 title at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Sunday with as little as two points on the board.
The 20-year-old Mercedes driver leads George Russell by 123 points and Lewis Hamilton by 124, with four rounds still to run after Mexico. Max Verstappen was mathematically eliminated from the fight at the United States Grand Prix. If both Russell and Hamilton fail to win on Sunday, Antonelli can finish anywhere he wants and still be champion.
At 20 years and 68 days on race day, he would overtake Sebastian Vettel as the youngest driver ever to win the world championship.
Verstappen on the sidelines
Verstappen will not be in the Red Bull when the weekend starts. The RB22 is expected to go to Ayumu Iwasa for Friday’s opening practice, satisfying one of the four mandatory rookie FP1 outings each team has to give up during a season. The Japanese driver, reigning Super Formula champion, has already deputised in three FP1s this year across both Red Bull and Racing Bulls machinery, making Mexico his fourth.
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Russell steps out of the Mercedes for Frederik Vesti. Franco Colapinto gives the Alpine A526 to Gabriele Minì, who makes his first Formula 1 practice appearance. Alex Albon hands the Williams to Luke Browning.
Lance Stroll, Gabriel Bortoleto and Esteban Ocon also sit out, SpeedWeek reports, making seven race drivers watching the opening session from the garage.
Under the 2026 sporting regulations, every team has to field a rookie in four FP1 outings across the season, split across its two cars. Mexico’s traditional three-practice format, with no sprint, makes it a natural venue for clearing those obligations without compromising qualifying preparation.
The altitude test
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez sits at 2,240 metres above sea level, the highest point on the Formula 1 calendar. The thin air strips significant power from the hybrid engines and pushes cooling systems hard, unusual territory for a rookie taking only a 90-minute session before handing the car back.
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Verstappen’s championship elimination means the lost mileage costs him nothing in the standings. For Russell and Hamilton it is more awkward: both are chasing a title that will almost certainly be out of reach by Sunday evening, and both lose a full practice session on the only circuit of its kind.
FP1 is scheduled for 12:30pm local time on Friday 30 October. The race follows on Sunday 1 November. Four rounds remain after Mexico: Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
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