Kimi Antonelli became the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history as Max Verstappen held off Lewis Hamilton to win a thrilling Mexico City Grand Prix.

Antonelli finished third to secure the F1 Drivers' Championship with four rounds to spare, becoming the first Italian world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

The 20-year-old avoided all the chaos in one of the most action-packed races of the season and was hugely emotional after the chequered flag.

"We did it, we did it. I wouldn't be here without Mercedes, without my family, so I'm very grateful for this moment and it's one that will live forever," said Antonelli. "I'm speechless. I'm trying to process what has just happened."

Meanwhile, Verstappen took advantage of a big fight between the Ferraris of Hamilton and Charles Leclerc on the opening lap to claim his third win in four races.

Pole-sitter Hamilton went side by side with Leclerc through the tight Turns 1 and 2 before Leclerc attacked again into Turn 4 around the outside.

Both drivers went off the track but Leclerc went across the grass to take the lead, allowing Verstappen to capitalise by overtaking Hamilton.

Leclerc was handed a five-second time penalty but a furious Hamilton said "the stewards are basically handling Charles this win" on the radio.

Verstappen stayed within five seconds of Leclerc before the only round of pit stops to take the lead but appeared to have an inferior car compared to the Ferraris, and was on aging soft tyres.

However, the race was stopped when Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas suffered a huge crash into the barriers as his suspension failed, leaving a standing-start restart with 26 laps remaining.

Leclerc got a poor launch from second so Hamilton attacked Verstappen into Turn 1, with the pair making contact as the Red Bull driver came out on top.

Even with a Safety Car for Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad crashing after tangling with McLaren's Oscar Piastri, Verstappen did just enough to keep Hamilton at bay with Antonelli just behind in third.

Leclerc battled his way to fourth with flat-spotted front tyres, while McLaren's Lando Norris finished fifth and Mercedes' George Russell sixth.

Piastri was seventh ahead of Alpine's Franco Colapinto, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson and the other Alpine of Pierre Gasly.