Antonelli is 2 factors away from the F1 title, and might win it subsequent week

Along with his ninth grand prix win of the season on Monday morning (AEDT), Italian Kimi Antonelli put himself on the cusp of successful his maiden System 1 drivers’ championship. 

The 20-year-old Mercedes pilot has been a category above the remainder in 2026, and will have sealed the championship together with his victory in Texas on Monday, however different outcomes meant he needed to wait a minimum of another week earlier than popping the champagne. 

Subsequent weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix shapes as much as be the coronation of Antonelli as an F1 champion. Right here is how he can seal the world title. 

Antonelli wants simply two extra factors

Heading into Monday’s United States Grand Prix, there have been nonetheless 5 drivers who may mathematically catch Kimi Antonelli within the race for the title. 

However Antonelli’s win lowered his challengers to teammate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. 

Drivers’ championship standings

1: 365 — Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2: 242 — George Russell, Mercedes (-123)

3: 241 — Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari (-124)

With simply 5 grands prix left to run, there’s a most of 125 factors a driver can obtain by successful each race. 

Antonelli has 365 factors, 123 forward of Russell and 124 over Hamilton. 

The utmost complete Russell and Hamilton can finish the season with is 367 and 366 factors, respectively. 

Meaning Antonelli must win only one extra level to get rid of Hamilton from the title race, and two factors to get rid of Russell. 

Antonelli can obtain that in Mexico Metropolis by ending ninth or larger. 

He would additionally win the title if neither Russell or Hamilton win the race.

Even when Russell or Hamilton end precisely 100 factors adrift of Antonelli on the finish of the race in Mexico, with 100 factors nonetheless out there, the Italian can be topped champion, as his 9 grand prix wins can’t be topped by both rival. 

‘Very excited’ Antonelli desires to win in model

Antonelli has held the lead of the drivers’ championship since his victory on the Japanese Grand Prix in spherical three. 

Regardless of main since March, Antonelli has dismissed any and all notions of fascinated by successful the drivers’ championship in simply his second season. 

However with the championship all however gained, he has lastly been in a position to acknowledge that solely probably the most calamitous set of circumstances would deny him changing into champion. 

Talking after his great win in Texas, Antonelli mentioned his mindset for the remainder of the 2026 season was to proceed pushing and scoring as many factors as doable.

“I’m very excited. We might like to clinch the title in model with a fantastic outcome,” Antonelli mentioned about his impending title win.

“That is all the time the mindset, and that’s going to be the mindset from now till the top of the season.

“Simply going to try to get pleasure from each second, as a result of these we’ll all the time bear in mind.”

ABC Sport could have a stay weblog of the F1 Mexican Grand Prix on Monday, November 2, with the race starting at 7am AEDT.