The victory in Texas has significantly narrowed the field of title contenders, leaving only three drivers mathematically in the hunt. Antonelli currently sits at the top of the leaderboard with 365 points, while his teammate George Russell holds 242 points. Lewis Hamilton remains in the mix with 241 points. The result in Austin effectively eliminated other challengers, including Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Lando Norris, from the championship conversation.
The Path to the Championship in Mexico
The upcoming race in Mexico offers Antonelli a clear opportunity to clinch the 2026 title. To secure the championship, the Italian needs to ensure he does not lose more than 23 points to Russell or more than 24 points to Hamilton. Practically, this means that scoring just two points in Mexico would guarantee him the title regardless of his rivals' results. If Antonelli finishes in ninth place or higher, he will be crowned champion even if either Russell or Hamilton takes the race win.
Furthermore, the championship could be decided in Antonelli’s favor even if he fails to score points in Mexico, provided that neither Russell nor Hamilton wins the race. With a 123-point advantage over Russell and 124 over Hamilton, Antonelli holds a commanding position. Given that there are only 125 points remaining in the season, any failure by his rivals to win in Mexico would leave them mathematically unable to close the gap sufficiently over the final four rounds.
A Record-Breaking Season
Antonelli’s dominance is further highlighted by his tally of nine race wins this season, compared to three for Russell and one for Hamilton. This win count provides a crucial tie-breaker advantage; even in a hypothetical scenario where the points were tied at the end of the season, Antonelli would secure the title based on his superior number of victories. Should he succeed in Mexico or later in the season, the 20-year-old will become the youngest driver to win an F1 championship, eclipsing the record set by Sebastian Vettel, who was 23 years and 134 days old when he claimed his first title in 2010.
