Formula 1 heads to Mexico City this weekend for the 19th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season with Kimi Antonelli on the verge of making history.
The Mercedes driver needs just two points at the Mexico City Grand Prix to secure his first world championship and become the youngest title winner in the sport’s history, taking the crown from reigning champion Lando Norris.
Antonelli one step away from history
Antonelli arrives at the 19th round of the season with 365 points, holding a 123-point lead over his closest challenger and Mercedes teammate George Russell, who has 242. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton is third on 241 points, 124 behind the Italian.
The 20-year-old has put together an exceptional campaign, winning nine of the 18 Grands Prix so far and finishing on the podium 15 times. His latest victory came in Austin last weekend, where he converted pole position into another win to move within reach of the title.
A ninth-place finish in Mexico would earn Antonelli the two points he needs to seal the championship. He could also be crowned without scoring, provided neither Russell nor Hamilton wins the race. If he completes the job, Antonelli will become the 36th driver to win the Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship, succeeding Norris, who claimed his maiden title in 2025.
The title would also make Antonelli the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history, breaking the record set by Sebastian Vettel in 2010. He would also become the first driver to win the championship in just his second season since Lewis Hamilton claimed the title with McLaren in 2008.
A new challenge at high altitude
The 19th round of the season takes place at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, a 4.304-kilometer circuit located more than 2,200 meters above sea level. The thin air reduces aerodynamic downforce and makes engine cooling more difficult, forcing teams to find the right balance between cornering grip and straight-line speed. The Grand Prix covers 71 laps over a race distance of 305.354 kilometers.
One of the circuit’s defining features is the Foro Sol stadium section, where the track winds through a former baseball stadium surrounded by grandstands. The section provides one of the most distinctive backdrops on the F1 calendar, with fans creating a vibrant atmosphere throughout the weekend.
Lando Norris won last year’s Mexico City Grand Prix for McLaren, finishing ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Verstappen, a five-time winner in Mexico City, will be looking to return to the top step of the podium. Antonelli, meanwhile, arrives on the back of his victory in Austin with the chance to seal the world title in style. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will also be drivers to watch as they look to maximize the team’s points haul and keep its Constructors’ Championship hopes alive.
Mercedes targets both championships
While the Drivers’ Championship is nearing its conclusion, the fight for the Constructors’ title remains open, with Mercedes holding a commanding advantage in the standings and coming off a strong run of results. The team leads Ferrari by 133 points, 607 to 474, with five Grands Prix remaining, including Mexico.
That leaves a maximum of 250 points still available, giving Ferrari a mathematical chance to close the gap. But with every race that passes, the opportunities to make up ground become fewer.
Ferrari will need to maximize its points haul at every remaining round and deliver near-perfect weekends while hoping Mercedes drops enough points to bring the title back into play. At this stage of the season, overturning the deficit would require a remarkable turnaround, if not a few miracles.
Mexico City Grand Prix schedule (Moroccan time)
Friday, October 30
Free Practice 1: 18:30 – 19:30
Free Practice 2: 22:00 – 23:00
Saturday, October 31
Free Practice 3: 17:30 – 18:30
Qualifying: 21:00 – 22:00
Sunday, November 1
Mexico City Grand Prix: 20:00
