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Kimi Antonelli could become the youngest-ever Formula One world champion as early as this weekend. The Mercedes ace has led the way for the majority of the season, winning nine of the 17 races in 2026. Antonelli boasts a commanding lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings, with team-mate George Russell 102 points behind.
That advantage was boosted last time out when Antonelli secured a podium with third in Singapore, while Russell only managed a ninth-place finish. Russell’s biggest challenge now is staving off the threat behind him, with Antonelli champion-elect at this point of the season.
But the title could be confirmed at the weekend when the Formula One circus rolls into Texas for the United States Grand Prix. It’s one of six races left this season, and while the likelihood of securing the Drivers' Championship this Sunday remains slim, there are some permutations that would see the Italian crowned.
To take the title, Antonelli will need to increase his lead by 23 points. He can do that by winning the US Grand Prix on Sunday, while hoping Russell picks up fewer than two points, and Hamilton finishes lower than fifth.
There is another way Antonelli can be crowned victor. In this scenario, he would once again have to finish on the top spot of the podium, and if Russell finishes ninth, that would leave an exact 125-point gap between the two Mercedes drivers.
If Hamilton was then to finish lower than fifth as mentioned before, Antonelli would be champion despite exactly 125 points being left on offer. That is because he boasts more race wins this season than Russell, with only five left on the calendar.
Either way, it’s going to take a monumental disaster for Antonelli not to win the championship from this point on.
Regardless, the 20-year-old is not allowing any distractions. Antonelli is remaining focused and after the last race, he said: "I know it's very close, I know it's there, but I just need to make sure that I keep doing the best I can.
"You know, the mindset is always the same, to go out there and win and perform the best way I can. I think this weekend [in Singapore] I haven't particularly driven that well. I felt like I could have done a better job, but I feel confident that, you know, a week to reset and I'm really looking forward to being back in Austin.
"But, at the end of the day, if I don't do my job well, then the result won't come. So in order to achieve what I want, I need to perform, as simple as that."
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