Can Kimi Antonelli become F1 champion at the United States Grand Prix?

Italian driver Kimi Antonelli claimed his ninth victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, on Sunday. The 20-year-old Mercedes star started from pole position and dominated the race at the Circuit of the Americas, crossing the finish line with a substantial margin over his rivals. Although the win moved him closer to the world championship, specific results from his competitors prevented him from securing the title immediately. He now requires just two additional points to clinch the crown during the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix. Antonelli finished ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who took second place, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who completed the podium in third. The outcome of the race kept the championship battle alive because Lewis Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, finished fourth, while Antonelli’s teammate, George Russell, ended the race in eighth place. For Antonelli to have been crowned champion in Texas, he needed to win the race while Russell finished ninth or lower and Hamilton placed fifth or lower. Because both rivals scored points, the decision moves to Mexico City. Following the race, Antonelli holds 365 points in the drivers’ standings. This gives him a 123-point lead over Russell, who sits second with 242 points, and a 124-point advantage over Hamilton, who trails in third with 241 points. With five Grand Prix races remaining on the calendar, the maximum number of points a driver can accumulate is 125. Consequently, Antonelli needs only two points to ensure that neither Russell nor Hamilton can surpass his total, regardless of their performance in the final races. A ninth-place finish in Mexico would secure the title for the Italian. Alternatively, if neither Russell nor Hamilton wins the Mexican Grand Prix, Antonelli will be declared champion due to his superior number of race victories, which serves as the tie-breaker if points totals are equal. Antonelli has led the drivers’ classification since his victory at the Japanese Grand Prix in the third round of the season. In his second professional season, he has established clear dominance, having previously won races in China, Japan, Miami, Canada, Monaco, Belgium, Italy, and Spain. His consistent performance has made him the favorite for the championship, though he noted prior to the Austin race that a perfect result was required to end the season early. He stated that he had spoken with his track engineer, Peter Bonnington, who advised him simply to enjoy the racing. Antonelli expressed that while the title is a long-held dream, the team must continue to push hard. In the constructors’ championship, Mercedes also holds a commanding position. The German manufacturer leads with 578 points, significantly ahead of Ferrari, which has accumulated 444 points. Mercedes could potentially claim the manufacturers’ title in Austin if they achieved a one-two finish and both Ferrari drivers failed to score points. However, with Hamilton finishing fourth and Leclerc second, that scenario did not occur. The next opportunity for Mercedes to secure the constructor’s crown is also scheduled for the Mexican Grand Prix. Other notable results from the Austin race included Lando Norris of McLaren taking fifth place, followed by Isack Hadjar of Red Bull in sixth and Oscar Piastri of McLaren in seventh. Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls and Pierre Gasly of Alpine finished ninth and tenth, respectively, behind Russell. Nico Hülkenberg of Audi was the last driver to finish on the same lap as the winner, placing 11th. Franco Colapinto, representing Argentina, retired from the race, marking another difficult exit for him in the United States. The next round of the World Championship takes place on November 1 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. Antonelli indicated that he looks forward to the event, viewing it as the likely stage for his coronation. The schedule includes five remaining traditional Grand Prix weekends, as the previous sprint format concluded in Singapore. Points distribution for these races follows standard regulations, with 25 points awarded for a win and decreasing values down to one point for a tenth-place finish. Antonelli’s potential triumph would make him the youngest world champion in the history of Formula 1, breaking the record currently held by Germany’s Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 years old when he won his first title. It would also mark the third time an Italian driver has claimed the world championship, following Alberto Ascari in 1952 and 1953, and Giuseppe Farina in 1950. Despite the mathematical certainty approaching, Antonelli maintained a focused demeanor, emphasizing that the job is not done until the final checkered flag falls in Abu Dhabi, assuming all scheduled races take place. The attention of the paddock now shifts to Mexico, where the championship is expected to be decided.