Max Verstappen wins for the sixth time in Mexico: 'Great opening lap'

Published on 02 November 2026 by Florence Cobben

Max Verstappen has won the Grand Prix of Mexico. After an expertly executed first lap where he flew from P5 to P2, he took the lead of the race from Charles Leclerc during the first round of pitstops. Afterwards, nobody managed to challenge the four-time world champion, and he claimed his 74th win of his career. After the race, all spotlights were on young Kimi Antonelli, who was officially crowned the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history. 

After the race, Max shared: “It was very hectic today. The first start made the race for me. I had a great opening lap. Then we deployed a bit of a different strategy. I think we missed a bit of pace, but we hung on. We made the right decisions at the right moments. Of course, the penalty served by Leclerc meant we could take the lead. I think you could see Ferrari gave us some difficulty. It was tricky. I was sweating at the end to keep Lewis behind us.“

Speaking on the thrilling moments in the first corner, he continues: “It’s such a long run to turn one. You have to be careful to find the right braking point because of the bump there. It’s always been a tradition at turn one for two cars to be battling for the lead.”

Finally, Max has kind words for the new world champion, Antonelli: “It’s unbelievable what a season he’s had. To do that at his age is truly impressive. It’s great to see the whole team celebrating with him and his family there. I’m sure it’s a very emotional day for him, and I’m very proud of him.”

At the start of the GP, Max already decided for an alternative strategy compared to his competitors. He chose to start on the medium tyre, while the remaining top nine started on softs.

The risky choice paid off. Max had a good start and managed to overtake both Mercedes cars before turn 1, promoting him to P3. At the head of the race, both Ferraris jockey for first place. Leclerc’s shoots off the track while going wheel-to-wheel with his teammate, and takes the lead. The move made Hamilton lose his traction and position to Max, and the Dutchman managed to slip past Hamilton into P2. The incident is noted by the stewards. The stewards also noted another incident between Mercedes-driver George Russell and Isack Hadjar (Oracle Red Bull Racing). Russell collided with Hadjar into the first turn, losing the Frenchman valuable position.

Max turns his efforts towards keeping up with Charles in first. Momentarily the Monegasque appears to be widening the gap, until a decision from the stewards changes everything and he receives a five second time penalty. Russell too gets a slap on the wrist, and is served a ten-second time penalty.

In lap 27, Leclerc serves his time penalty. Max pits at the same time, and manages to switch tyres and leave the pits ahead of his childhood rival, seizing the virtual lead. Both return to the track in fifth and sixth place. Max is now queued to run a long stint on his soft tyres. Red Bull’s strategy? With still 44 laps to go, Max is instructed to give one of his “magical Mexico-stints.”

Moments later, Hamilton and Russell also pit, promoting Max to P3. Still ahead of the world champion are Antonelli and Lando Norris (McLaren), both on soft tyres. Leclerc follows at a one-and-a-half second distance on the medium tyre.

Norris heads in on lap 40, making Antonelli the only driver still ahead of Max. The incoming world champion switches in lap 44 to mediums, and Max takes the lead. The Italian drops back to P4, behind the Ferraris. The pitstop couldn’t have come at a worse time, as a lap later Bottas (Cadillac) crashes due to a suspension failure. The race is red flagged and all the cars have to head into the pits. Thankfully, Bottas emerges out of the car unharmed.

The race is paused for forty minutes and then resumed with a standing start. All cars have taken advantage of the free pit stop and switched to the soft tyre. Max gets away well, but Lewis Hamilton has the most impressive start from P3, overtaking Leclerc and challenging Max for the lead. The Dutchman executes his most aggressive defending techniques to keep the Brit behind. Moments later, Leclerc loses position once again to Antonelli, who is now consequentially running in P3.

In the remaining laps Max manages to build a gap between him and Hamilton to a second. But the Brit remains in his rearview mirrors. Max starts reporting over the radio that he’s struggling with engine braking. With twelve laps to go, a safety car bunches up the field once more. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) crashed in a duel with Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and was forced to retire from the race. The incident was flagged for investigation.

In lap 63 the race is resumed. Max, yet again, has a good restart and keeps the lead. Even though Hamilton gets within a second of the Dutchman multiple times, it never amounts to a proper attack. After 71 laps and two-and-a-half hours later, Max is the first to cross the finish line. He wins the Mexico Grand Prix for the sixth time, and claims his third win of the season. The win secures him second place in the world championship.

But it’s the man crossing the line in the third who sets all the reporters talking. Antonelli is officially crowned a Formula 1 world champion, and at only 20 years old, that makes him the youngest world champion ever. He’s joined (and celebrated) on the podium by world champions Max and Lewis.

Results Grand Prix Mexico: