Antonelli Leads Mexican GP, On Track for Championship as Penalties Shake Up Top Spots

UPDATE - follow-up to Mexican Formula One Grand Prix: Kimi Antonelli aims to seal title – live: Kimi Antonelli is leading the Mexican Grand Prix and will clinch the title if he finishes ninth or better. Max Verstappen left the pits in fifth place, 1.6 seconds ahead of the field. Lewis Hamilton is stuck behind Ferrari, unable to find clean air. Charles Leclerc is serving a five‑second penalty, now behind Verstappen and Hamilton. George Russell has a ten‑second penalty and is likely to lose places to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Pierre Gasly is fighting back after his stop and has passed Hirakawa. The top five are Antonelli, Verstappen, Hamilton, Russell and Norris. Oscar Bearman is within a second of tenth and just passed Bortoleto for eleventh. Sergio Perez sits just outside the points, hoping to move up in his home race. The gap to the leader is about five seconds, matching Leclerc’s penalty time. ## Context Penalties and pit strategies are deciding factors in this late‑season race, affecting both the race win and the championship battle.