Team Reactions: 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix
The Mexico City Grand Prix saw Kimi Antonelli clinch his first World Championship, with a composed third-place finish. Max Verstappen took the race win, while Ferrari grappled with missed opportunities.
Mercedes
Kimi Antonelli's third-place finish in Mexico City was all he needed to become the youngest Formula 1 World Champion. The 20-year-old Italian managed a straightforward race, avoiding trouble and overtaking Charles Leclerc after a red flag restart. Overwhelmed by emotion, Antonelli shed tears after crossing the finish line, marking a memorable milestone in his racing career. His teammate, George Russell, had a more challenging day. A poor start and contact with Isack Hadjar led to a 10-second penalty, relegating him to a sixth-place finish. Despite the setback, Russell was quick to congratulate Antonelli on his achievement.
Toto Wolff praised Antonelli's journey to the championship, highlighting his growth and resilience. Andrew Shovlin commended Antonelli's controlled race and acknowledged the team's focus on securing the Constructors' Championship.
Red Bull
Max Verstappen was the star of the show, managing a strategic race to claim victory. Starting on medium tires, Verstappen executed his strategy flawlessly, capitalizing on Leclerc's penalty and holding off challenges from Lewis Hamilton. Isack Hadjar's race, however, was marred by an early spin caused by Russell, leaving him to battle back to ninth place.
Team Principal Laurent Mekies lauded Verstappen's masterful drive and acknowledged the team's recent success. Hadjar, despite a tough race, showed determination and a positive attitude towards the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix.
Ferrari
Ferrari's day was a mixed bag. Lewis Hamilton finished second, battling closely with Verstappen, while Charles Leclerc's race was hampered by a penalty and a lock-up, leading to a fourth-place finish. Team Principal Fred Vasseur expressed frustration over missed opportunities but remained hopeful for better results in Brazil.
McLaren
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri had contrasting fortunes. Norris finished fifth, showing strong race pace but struggling to overtake due to technical limitations. Piastri, after a promising start, fell to 13th following a time penalty for a collision.
Alpine
Franco Colapinto initially brought home points but was later penalized for a yellow flag infringement, dropping him to 15th. Pierre Gasly, also penalized, fell from ninth to 17th, capping a frustrating weekend for Alpine.
Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson delivered a strong performance, climbing from the pit lane to finish seventh, while Arvid Lindblad's race ended in a crash. Team Principal Alan Permane praised Lawson's resilience and acknowledged Lindblad's promising pace.
Audi
Nico Hulkenberg's race was compromised by a collision and subsequent penalty, while Gabriel Bortoleto capitalized on post-race penalties to secure eighth place. Allan McNish highlighted the team's challenges and looked forward to a better performance in Brazil.
Haas
Ollie Bearman's promising run ended with a crash caused by Hulkenberg, while Ryo Hirakawa impressed on debut, finishing tenth. Team Principal Ayao Komatsu praised Hirakawa's performance and resilience.
Williams
Williams had a challenging weekend with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon finishing outside the points. Both drivers showed glimpses of potential but were ultimately unable to capitalize on the race's opportunities.
Cadillac
Sergio Perez's 300th race was marred by a penalty, while Valtteri Bottas had a high-speed crash due to a suspension failure. Team Principal Marcin Budkowski focused on the positives and congratulated Perez on his milestone.
Aston Martin
Both Aston Martin drivers faced reliability issues, resulting in early retirements. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll's races ended prematurely due to power unit failures, leaving the team with work to do ahead of Brazil.