From Ferrari's historic 1964 triumph to Lewis Hamilton: Mexico's greatest F1 title moments

The 2026 Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix could become the scene of another historic world championship celebration, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli on the verge of securing his first Drivers’ title. Despite winning the previous race in Austin, the Mercedes driver was unable to mathematically clinch the championship in Texas. However, his chances of completing the achievement at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez are considerably stronger this weekend.

Should Andrea Kimi Antonelli secure the title in Mexico, the Bologna-born driver would become the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history and the third Italian to achieve the feat, 73 years after Alberto Ascari’s last championship success. The Mercedes youngster is therefore approaching a potentially decisive weekend, but he would not be the first driver to celebrate winning the world championship at the Mexican circuit. Five drivers have previously secured the Drivers’ Championship in Mexico, including John Surtees, Graham Hill and Lewis Hamilton.

F1 world champions crowned in Mexico: A circuit with a remarkable history

Formula 1 has raced in Mexico since 1963, with every World Championship edition of the Mexican Grand Prix taking place at the same venue, although the circuit layout has undergone several modifications over the decades. The event has experienced lengthy interruptions, disappearing from the calendar between 1971 and 1985 and again from 1993 until 2014. It was also cancelled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic before returning in 2021 under the Mexico City Grand Prix name.

Beyond deciding world championships, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez has witnessed several important milestones for drivers and constructors. In 1965, Richie Ginther claimed his first and only Formula 1 victory, simultaneously delivering Honda’s maiden Grand Prix win. Another landmark arrived in 1986, when Gerhard Berger secured his first career victory and gave Benetton its first Formula 1 success.

The Mexican circuit was also the venue for Michael Schumacher’s first Formula 1 podium in 1992, an important early achievement in the career of the future seven-time world champion. However, the track’s greatest historical significance lies in the championship battles that have been decided there, particularly during the 1960s and the Mercedes-dominated era of the late 2010s.

John Surtees delivers Ferrari’s historic 1964 F1 world championship

Some of the most dramatic Formula 1 championship battles decided in Mexico took place during the 1960s. Three Drivers’ Championships were settled at the circuit during that decade, beginning with the unforgettable 1964 season finale.

That year, Jim Clark, Graham Hill and John Surtees arrived in Mexico fighting for the world title. The championship remained undecided until the final race, with each contender hoping to take advantage of a result that could determine the outcome of the entire season.

John Surtees ultimately finished second behind Dan Gurney, a result sufficient to secure the Drivers’ Championship because he finished ahead of his direct rivals in the title battle. His achievement also gave Ferrari another world championship to celebrate, making the Mexican Grand Prix a particularly significant event in the Italian team’s history.

However, John Surtees entered the record books for another remarkable reason. He remains the only competitor to have won world championships in both Formula 1 and motorcycle Grand Prix racing, an achievement that has never been repeated.

Denny Hulme and Graham Hill secure F1 titles in Mexico in 1967 and 1968

Three years after Ferrari’s success with John Surtees, the Mexican Grand Prix once again decided the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship. The 1967 race was won by Jim Clark, but the world title went to Denny Hulme, who finished third and secured the championship for Brabham.

For Denny Hulme, it was the first and only Formula 1 world title of his career. His achievement also remains historically significant because he is the only New Zealand driver to have won the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship.

In 1968, Graham Hill finally had the opportunity to make up for losing the championship battle in 1964. The British driver had already been crowned world champion in 1962, but his pursuit of a second title remained unresolved until the final race of the season, once again held in Mexico.

Graham Hill delivered when it mattered most, winning the Mexican Grand Prix and securing the championship ahead of Jackie Stewart. His victory completed a remarkable period in which three Drivers’ Championships had been decided at the Mexican circuit in just five seasons.

The Hill family’s connection to Formula 1 world championship history would continue decades later. Graham Hill’s son, Damon Hill, followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming world champion with Williams in 1996.

Lewis Hamilton wins two F1 world championships in Mexico with Mercedes

After the dramatic title deciders of the 1960s, Mexico would go several decades without witnessing another Drivers’ Championship celebration. One of the reasons was the event’s position on the Formula 1 calendar, with the Mexican Grand Prix frequently taking place during the first half of the season rather than near its conclusion.

That changed in 2017 and 2018, when Lewis Hamilton secured consecutive world championships at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Both achievements came during a period of considerable Mercedes dominance between 2014 and 2020, when the British driver claimed six of his seven Formula 1 titles.

In 2017, Lewis Hamilton arrived in Mexico with an opportunity to secure his fourth world championship. Despite finishing only ninth in the race, the Mercedes driver collected enough points to clinch the title, returning to the top of the championship standings after losing the previous year’s battle to teammate Nico Rosberg.

The following season produced another celebration for Lewis Hamilton at the same venue. This time, fourth place in the Mexican Grand Prix was sufficient to secure his fifth Drivers’ Championship, further establishing his position among the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history.

Interestingly, Lewis Hamilton did not win either of the races in which he secured those championships. Both the 2017 and 2018 Mexican Grands Prix were won by Max Verstappen, who would later end the British driver’s run of consecutive titles by claiming his first world championship in 2021.

Could Kimi Antonelli become the sixth F1 champion crowned in Mexico?

The prospect of another championship being decided at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez adds considerable significance to the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. Andrea Kimi Antonelli arrives following his victory at the United States Grand Prix, a result that brought him closer to securing the world title but did not yet make his championship lead mathematically unassailable.

The Italian’s crucial Austin victory and the praise received from Toto Wolff have heightened expectations ahead of the Mexican weekend. His success in Texas was another important step towards a championship that could now be decided at one of Formula 1’s most historically significant venues.

For Mercedes, the possibility of securing another Drivers’ Championship in Mexico would also bring back memories of Lewis Hamilton’s celebrations in 2017 and 2018. The team’s attention now turns to the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix weekend, where Andrea Kimi Antonelli could join an exclusive group of champions.

From John Surtees and Ferrari’s triumph in 1964 to the consecutive titles secured by Lewis Hamilton, Mexico has repeatedly played a decisive role in Formula 1 championship history. Should Andrea Kimi Antonelli clinch the 2026 title at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, he would become the sixth driver to celebrate winning the world championship at the Mexican Grand Prix, adding another chapter to the circuit’s remarkable legacy.