F1 Drivers Who Clinched Their Championships In Mexican Grand Prix

After cruising to a United States Grand Prix win, Mercedes driver and current championship leader Kimi Antonelli puts himself in a better position to step into Formula 1's history books. To clinch the World Drivers' Championship, he just needs to finish at least P9 in the next race at Mexico City.

It's a relatively easy task for the young Italian driver, who has already won nine Grand Prix races this season. If Antonelli crosses the line in ninth place, he joins an exclusive list of F1 drivers who clinched their titles during the Mexican Grand Prix. 

Typically, the Mexican GP is scheduled in late October to early November, making it possible for drivers to secure the season championship here. 

Here are the five instances in F1 history where a Drivers' Championship was secured in Mexico:

If Antonelli gets the job done this weekend, he won't be the lone Mercedes driver who clinched the championship during the Mexican GP. Lewis Hamilton already did it, twice actually.

In 2018, Hamilton was on his way to his fifth championship while battling Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, his nearest rival at the time. If he finished seventh in Mexico, he would clinch the title, even if Vettel won the race. 

Hamilton placed third in qualifying behind the two Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, and crucially ahead of Vettel. However, tyre degradation became a big problem for Hamilton, and he tumbled down a place. Verstappen took the victory, with Vettel finishing in second.

Still, Hamilton took the checkered flag in fourth place, securing his fifth championship and matching Juan Manuel Fangio's total.

In 2017, Hamilton had a substantial lead over Vettel heading into the Mexican Grand Prix. If Vettel won the race, Hamilton needed to finish within the Top 5 to clinch the title.

However, Hamilton's rear tyre was punctured after a first-lap clash with Vettel. The Mercedes driver dropped down the order, but he managed to work his way to a P9 finish. With Vettel settling for a fourth-place finish, Hamilton's P9 was enough for him to secure his fourth championship.

In 1968, the Mexican GP was the final round of the season. Interestingly, the championship remained a three-way battle between Graham Hill (39 points), Jackie Stewart (36 points), and Denny Hulme (33 points). 

Hill started the race in third, but crucially ahead of Hulme in fourth and Stewart in seventh. Hill just needed to stay ahead of his nearest rivals, but still won the 65-lap race to clinch his second F1 championship.

The Mexican GP was also the season finale in 1967. The championship featured an intra-team battle between Hulme and team owner Jack Brabham. Hulme led Brabham by five points heading into Mexico.

That five-point cushion proved to be valuable for Hulme, as he finished the race third behind Brabham. It was Hulme's first and only championship in Formula 1.

In 1964, three drivers were in a bid to clinch the title in the season finale in Mexico. Graham Hill was leading the championship by five points over John Surtees. Jim Clark also had a chance if he won, provided Surtees finished the race third or lower and Hill finished fourth or lower.

But the race proved to be as chaotic as it could get. Clark started from pole and took the lead. Surtees's Ferrari suffered an engine misfire that cost him places, but he still fought back. 

Then, on Lap 31, Surtees's teammate Lorenzo Bandini collided with Hill, damaging the latter's exhaust and effectively ending his title hopes. Clark was still leading, but an oil leak forced him to retire his car towards the end of the race.

That left Surtees in position to secure the title. Bandini, his teammate, helped by moving aside on the final lap, allowing Surtees to take second place in the race. 

Surtees finished the season with 40 points, just one point over Hill's 39.