What happened: Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli enters the Mexico Grand Prix at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with a chance to secure the 2026 Formula 1 world championship, one week after taking his ninth win of the season from pole in Austin. With 125 points remaining across the final five rounds, Antonelli holds a 124-point margin over Lewis Hamilton in addition to his gap over teammate George Russell. He clinches the drivers' crown regardless of his finish position if neither Russell nor Hamilton wins Sunday's race.

Why it matters: At 20 years old, Antonelli is poised to break Sebastian Vettel's 2010 mark as F1's youngest world champion by three years while delivering Mercedes its first drivers' championship since 2020. Mercedes also has a mathematical shot at clinching its ninth constructors' title in Mexico, entering the weekend 133 points ahead of second-place Ferrari. Securing the team crown at Round 19 requires Mercedes to outscore Ferrari by 39 of the 43 available points to clear the 172-point threshold remaining after this weekend.

What to watch: Formula 1 action resumes this weekend at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez for Round 19 of the 2026 season, where Verstappen will sit out FP1 for Red Bull.