Kimi Antonelli secures 2026 Formula 1 world title in Mexico

The emotional podium at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez

Lewis Hamilton hugged former race engineer Peter Bonnington at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez after Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 Formula 1 world title. This footage shows him congratulate Bonnington and went viral after the Mexican Grand Prix. Antonelli clinched his maiden championship in only his second season. He became the youngest-ever world champion with four rounds to spare. The podium featured Max Verstappen in first, Lewis Hamilton in second, and Antonelli in third. Hamilton started the race from pole position.

I found the interaction between the former Mercedes teammates striking. Hamilton worked with Bonnington throughout his time at the Brackley outfit, where he earned six championships. After the 41-year-old moved to Ferrari in 2025, Bonnington began working with Hamilton’s successor, Kimi Antonelli. Fans on Reddit called Hamilton a "classy dude" for his behavior. One commenter noted that Hamilton appeared to put his own feelings aside to celebrate his friends. Another user suggested that Hamilton still feels like a Mercedes driver despite wearing a different suit.

Antonelli’s dominant championship run

Antonelli’s path to the title included several commanding performances. I believe his victory at Monza stood out because he overcame a significant power unit penalty. He qualified seventh and dropped to 12th in the opening laps. The race saw a red flag after Charles Leclerc crashed at high speed. After the second restart, Antonelli passed Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, and Oscar Piastri to take the lead on lap 18. He won the race after a battle with George Russell. He climbed from 19th on the grid to take the win.

The Italian driver showed immense precision at Monaco by taking pole position and securing his fifth consecutive win while facing intense pressure from the Ferrari and McLaren drivers behind him. He pulled laps that were two seconds faster than the McLarens and a full second faster than Ferrari. This performance showed he could handle difficult tracks. In Canada, he fought George Russell in damp conditions. He grabbed track position on the start and initially fended off Russell’s advances. Russell took the lead on lap six, but Antonelli continued his assault. He did not shy away from the mistake. The fight ended when Russell suffered a mechanical failure on lap 30.

Antonelli’s season also included a difficult weekend in Azerbaijan. He clipped the inside wall at Turn 1 during the first stage of qualifying. This incident forced him to start 16th because Mercedes could not repair the damage in time. He had to drive within himself to limit the points he lost to George Russell. While he finished in the points, this weekend lacked the dominance seen at other circuits. I also observed his composure in Austin. He waved to his fans. He delivered a flawless performance despite the pressure of his impending title. He managed his pace on the slightly uphill grid and avoided most track limit infringements.

A bittersweet moment for the engineer

The partnership between Bonnington and Antonelli helped the rookie pull off his championship. Fans noted that the seasoned engineer provided the support Antonelli needed to succeed. One Reddit user commented that the partnership made a world of difference for the young driver.

The footage also prompted discussion about Bonnington’s own feelings. Some fans suggested the moment felt bittersweet for the engineer. They wondered if a part of him wanted the eighth championship for Hamilton instead. This sentiment reflects the long history between the driver and his former engineer. The fans also discussed the pressure Antonelli faced during his second season. They noted how he maintained his friendly and playful personality despite the massive success.