Can Kimi Antonelli win the F1 drivers' title at the next race in the United States?

How Kimi Antonelli can win the title in the United States

Kimi Antonelli can claim his first F1 drivers' championship title at the next race in the United States following his Singapore GP podium.

The Mercedes driver finished third at Marina Bay to earn 15 points, which, coupled with ninth-place and two points for George Russell, means the points gap between the Mercedes team-mates is now 102 points.

Following the Austin race next time out, there will be 125 points remaining in the season, meaning Russell must be within this total after the United States GP. 

Should Antonelli win in the United States, his points lead over Russell will grow to 127, meaning Russell must finish eighth or higher to be in with a chance of keeping the fight alive to Mexico City. 

If Russell is eighth, the points lead will be 123 for Antonelli. If Russell is ninth in Austin, with Antonelli winning, the points gap will be exactly 125 points - enough for Antonelli to seal the title.

If they are exactly 125 points apart following the Austin race, with Antonelli having won the United States GP, Antonelli will be champion on countback as he will hold nine grand prix victories to Russell on three, with five races remaining.

Russell could then claim a maximum of eight grand prix wins if he were to win the final five races with Antonelli not scoring another point, but the Italian would have won more races in the season, with the number of race wins being used as the first tie-breaker when championship points are level at the end of the season. 

If Kimi Antonelli does win the 2026 F1 title in the United States GP, he will be 20 years, 2 months, 1 day old, shattering Sebastian Vettel's record as the youngest F1 champion by over three years.