Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) could clinch the 2026 drivers' championship as early as the Mexico City Grand Prix on 1 November, according to RacingNews365's calculations. He would be 20 years, two months and eight days old that day, beating Sebastian Vettel's youngest-champion record of 23 years and 134 days, set in 2010, by more than three years. The key is protecting his 81-point lead over team-mate George Russell through the remaining schedule, which begins with this Saturday's Azerbaijan GP.
The maths: 127 more points and it's done
After his win at the Spanish GP in Madrid, Antonelli has 292 points to Russell's 211. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) is third on 191, and RacingNews365 noted that Russell is the only driver within 100 points of Antonelli. The same outlet put the points still available at 208, including the Singapore sprint, and calculated that Antonelli needs "only 127 more points to seal the title". On that basis, the earliest he could clinch it is the Mexico City GP on 1 November, at which point three races and 75 points would remain.
The figures for the remaining points differ between outlets, however. GPFans counted nine rounds left (including the Singapore sprint) and a maximum of 233 points. The numbers don't match, but both agree that even if Russell swept every remaining race, the title would be settled around Mexico as long as Antonelli keeps scoring steadily.
| Pos | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 292 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 211 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 191 |
The remaining schedule
RacingNews365 lists the post-Spain schedule as follows. Races after Brazil were not included in the article.
| Date | Grand Prix |
|---|---|
| Saturday 26 September | Azerbaijan GP |
| 4 October | Bahrain GP |
| 11 October | Singapore GP (sprint) |
| 25 October | United States GP |
| 1 November | Mexico City GP |
| 8 November | Brazilian GP |
Records already broken, and those still in reach
According to ESPN, the 19-year-old Antonelli has already become the youngest driver to lead a grand prix, the youngest pole-sitter, the youngest to set a fastest lap and the youngest championship leader this year. By ESPN's count on 18 August he had six wins and six poles, matching Alberto Ascari (six wins in 1952) for the most wins by an Italian in a season, and his subsequent victory in Madrid takes him past Ascari.
Some records remain. The most wins in a season is Max Verstappen's 19 in 2023, the longest winning streak is Verstappen's ten in a row, and the most poles in a season is Vettel's 15 from 19 races in 2011. Antonelli's winning run stopped at five. ESPN also flagged Verstappen's record for podiums in a season, 21 from 22 races in 2023, as one in play. Antonelli will be 20 by the end of the season.