Mexico offers Antonelli a chance to clinch his first F1 title

Kimi Antonelli heads to Mexico City with his first Formula 1 title within reach. His ninth victory of 2026 came at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, a week before Mexico, leaving him 123 points ahead of George Russell and 124 ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez could become the setting for a title decision. Motorsport.com’s preview says a ninth-place finish or better would clinch Antonelli’s crown, and that he could still take it outside the points if neither rival wins. Its 125-point total for the remainder of the 2026 campaign assumes the Middle Eastern rounds go ahead.

Mercedes can also clinch the constructors’ title in Mexico, although Motorsport.com calls that outcome unlikely. It enters the weekend 133 points ahead of Ferrari; the preview sees Interlagos next weekend as the more likely place for the decision.

Ferrari has put together three consecutive podiums but remains winless in nine races. Charles Leclerc finished second in Austin; after that race, Fred Vasseur said Ferrari had got everything right except its Q3 laps. Vasseur said he was confident in the package, with fine margins in the tyre operating window and set-up separating a win from falling short.

Red Bull’s late-season progress has not ended its start and radio issues. In Austin, Isack Hadjar lost two places at lights out and Max Verstappen one; Hadjar said the team needed to redesign its clutch, while team boss Laurent Mekies says the complicated start problem is likely to continue into 2027. The radio problem first affected Verstappen in Singapore, then hit him again in Austin and Hadjar for the first time this year.

Even so, Red Bull has moved ahead of McLaren into third in the constructors’ standings, and Verstappen has reached the podium in six consecutive grands prix, including two wins.

Sergio Pérez is set to start his 300th Formula 1 race in Mexico as a Cadillac driver. The Guadalajara-born former world championship runner-up is the most successful Mexican driver in F1 history.