Antonelli Crowned Champion, Ferrari Fallout, and Honda Heartbreak: Mexico GP Roundup

Kimi Antonelli etched his name into Formula 1 history at the Mexico City Grand Prix, becoming the sport's youngest-ever world champion and the first Italian to claim the title since Alberto Ascari in 1953. The achievement prompted an emotional reaction in the paddock and beyond, with a Sky Sports F1 presenter reportedly fighting back tears while congratulating the young driver on his historic triumph. In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, Antonelli's father Marco — himself a former racing driver and team principal — revealed he had seen the champion in his son following a crash in Australia earlier in the season. Antonelli has also confirmed the race number he will carry into the 2027 season following his maiden title win.

While Antonelli's coronation dominated the headlines, Max Verstappen added his own chapter to the day's story with a sixth victory at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. According to Autosport, a key strategy call from Red Bull was central to Verstappen securing the win.

Ferrari's day, however, was overshadowed by an opening-lap clash between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc that team principal Fred Vasseur believes cost the Italian squad a potential victory. Vasseur was left furious by the incident and issued a stern demand for 'respect' between his drivers, signalling that the internal tensions at Maranello will need to be carefully managed in the races ahead.

Aston Martin endured a miserable afternoon of a different kind, with their Honda power unit failing after barely five laps. Honda's Shintaro Orihara had already flagged the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as a very challenging circuit for power units in the team's race preview, but the early retirement still represented a painful outcome for the squad, which had shown decent pace and accumulated solid mileage during free practice.

Looking ahead to the driver market, Liam Lawson has admitted he has been given no assurance of retaining his Racing Bulls seat for the 2027 season, adding further uncertainty to the midfield picture as teams begin to plan for the year ahead.