Title permutations: How Kimi Antonelli can win the 2026 F1 Championship in Mexico City
29 October 2026Kimi Antonelli can be crowned 2026 F1 World Champion at this weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix, and the task is far simpler than it was in Austin. A finish in the top nine would be enough, whatever anyone else does. Seal it, and at just 20 years old the Italian would become the youngest World Champion in F1 history.
Austin offered Antonelli his first chance to clinch the title, and he came agonisingly close. He did his part by winning the United States Grand Prix, but Lewis Hamilton in fourth and George Russell in eighth each finished a single place higher than he needed.
That victory still stretched his advantage to 123 points over Mercedes team-mate Russell and 124 over Hamilton, while Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris dropped out of the championship picture altogether.
Here’s how the 2026 F1 Drivers’ Championship standings look after the United States Grand Prix:
Pos Driver Team Points
1 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 365
2 George Russell Mercedes 242
3 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 241
How many Grands Prix are left in the 2026 F1 season?
Five rounds remain, with the Mexico City Grand Prix up next:
- Mexico City Grand Prix
- Brazilian Grand Prix
- Las Vegas Grand Prix
- Qatar Grand Prix
- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
How many points are left to win in 2026?
A maximum of 125 points remain, which is what a driver would collect by winning every one of those five races. Once Mexico City is out of the way, the most that will be left on the table is 100 points across the final four rounds.
Who can still stop Kimi Antonelli winning the 2026 F1 title?
Just two drivers: Russell and Hamilton. On paper, they are the only ones who can still overhaul the Italian, with Verstappen, Leclerc and Norris now out of the equation.
One of the pair would have to take victory in each of the five rounds still to come while Antonelli stopped scoring altogether.
How can Kimi Antonelli win the 2026 F1 World Championship in Mexico City?
There are two scenarios in which Antonelli can take the title in Mexico City.
Finish ninth or better
It comes down to just two points. A ninth-place finish or better would make Antonelli champion, regardless of where Hamilton or Russell end up.
Russell and Hamilton don’t win
Even a non-score might not be the end of things for Antonelli. He could still be champion if neither Russell or Hamilton took victory.
