Verstappen wins in Mexico City from fifth as Antonelli takes the title

Max Verstappen started fifth and won the Mexico City Grand Prix by 0.756 seconds. Lewis Hamilton, who had started from pole, took second.

Charles Leclerc led the first 27 laps. Kimi Antonelli had the next 16, until he pitted on lap 43 and the lead passed to Verstappen. Then the race went into a spin. Safety car on lap 44, red flag on lap 45. Verstappen stopped under the red flag and kept the lead. A second safety car came out on laps 59 to 62, and he held on through that too. Over the last ten laps he averaged 79.626 seconds, about a second quicker than the top ten's average of 80.678.

Behind him, Hamilton passed Leclerc for second on lap 47. A lap later Antonelli did the same for third. Leclerc, who had a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage at turn 4, finished fourth. Hamilton set the fastest lap, a 79.268 on lap 50. Liam Lawson started from the pit lane on the stewards' order and still finished ninth. Alexander Albon gained five places on laps 47 and 48 and was classified 14th.

Strategies split down the middle: five drivers ran SOFT-MEDIUM-SOFT, five more SOFT-MEDIUM-SOFT-SOFT. Last year the popular choice was SOFT-MEDIUM-SOFT.

Cooling was the theme in the garages. McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Racing Bulls all brought bodywork changes for the thin air at altitude, and Red Bull also revised its sidepod. That may have played its part in Verstappen's third win of the season.

Third place was all Antonelli needed. He has 380 points, 119 clear of Verstappen, with four rounds and 100 points left. Nobody can catch him. Verstappen sits second on 261, Hamilton third on 259.

Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest F1 champion!