Kimi Antonelli becomes Formula 1 World Champion

Kimi Antonelli becomes Formula 1 World Champion

Kimi Antonelli entered the 2026 Formula 1 season as one of the sport's rising stars. Now, he's a World Champion.

The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 Team driver clinched his first Formula 1 World Championship at the FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO 2026 in Mexico City, capping a breakthrough season.

The championship adds another milestone to a season already filled with them for the 20-year-old driver. With the title, he becomes the youngest Formula 1 World Champion in the sport's history. Antonelli's championship is a defining moment in the 2026 Formula 1 season that has continued to build momentum on and off the track.

With races across multiple continents and a fanbase that spans generations, the sport has become a global platform that sits at the intersection of performance, entertainment and culture.

And through its partnerships with Formula 1 and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 Team, PepsiCo is bringing fans around the world closer to the sport with Gatorade, STING Energy and Doritos. Gatorade brings expertise in fueling athletes rooted in decades of sports science to one of the most physically demanding environments in sport. The brand is visible across the sport as the Official Sports Drink and Official Partner of the Formula 1 Sprint, connecting directly to one of the fastest, most intense race formats. It also teamed up with F1 ACADEMY™, supporting F1 ACADEMY driver Lisa Billard in her rookie season.

STING Energy is showing up in ways fans can see and experience, with on-the-ground activations, market launches and fan-facing moments around race weekends. In Barcelona, Spain, at the FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES GRAN PREMIO DE BARCELONA-CATALUNYA 2026, the brand teamed up with global DJ Alan Walker to debut "The Sting Within Me," an original track inspired by the sound, speed and emotion of Formula 1. The track debuted live in front of thousands of fans.

Doritos is tapping into the cultural side of the sport, bringing the energy, anticipation and shared experiences that build around race weekends including Doritos Loaded pop-ups at races around the world. Doritos, also, launched "Taste the Thrill," a global Formula 1 platform designed to bring the sensory experience of race day to fans through social-first content, immersive experiences.

Antonelli's championship is one of the defining moments of the 2026 Formula 1 season. And with more races still ahead, including the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2026, PepsiCo's first season across the sport continues to build momentum through partnerships, brand activations and fan experiences around the world.

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