How Antonelli can become F1's youngest world champion this weekend

How Kimi Antonelli can win the F1 title at the US Grand Prix this weekendBy Michael DoyleTopic:Formula 1Posted Wed 21 Oct 2026 at 2:00pmWed 21 Oct 2026 at 2:00pmKimi Antonelli is on the cusp of winning the F1 drivers' championship. (Reuters: Annice Lyn)In short:Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli can secure his maiden Formula 1 drivers' championship with victory at the United States Grand Prix.Antonelli, 20, would become the youngest F1 champion ever.What's next?ABC Sport will have a live blog of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix from 5:30am AEDT on Monday, October 26.Italian F1 driver Kimi Antonelli has his first chance to win the world championship this weekend, as the 20-year-old closes in on a maiden title in just his second season.The Mercedes driver has been a class above the rest in 2026, with eight grand prix wins and a further six podium places across 17 rounds. This Monday's (AEDT) United States Grand Prix will be Antonelli's first match point where he can officially seal a championship that has felt like his for many months. The equation for Kimi Antonelli is very simple: win and hope for other results. Antonelli enters this weekend's grand prix on 340 points, 102 more than teammate George Russell and 111 ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton.The Italian needs to have a lead of 125 points or more to seal the drivers' championship at the United States Grand Prix. That will happen if Antonelli wins the race, Russell finishes ninth or worse, and Hamilton finishes fifth or worse.AntonelliRussellHamiltonChampionship resultWin9th or lower5th or lowerAntonelli becomes championWin8th or better5th or lowerHamilton eliminatedWin9th or lower4th or betterRussell eliminatedWin8th or better5th or lowerChampionship remains alive2nd or lowerAnyAnyChampionship remains aliveAfter this weekend, there will be five grands prix left in the season — Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.There will be a maximum of 125 points left to win.If Antonelli finishes exactly 125 points ahead of either Russell or Hamilton in Texas, mathematically either of those drivers could end the season level on points — if they won every race and Antonelli failed to score another point.Even in that unlikely scenario, Antonelli would still become champion through a tie-break, having won more grands prix than the others. When is the United States Grand Prix?Here is when the F1 United States Grand Prix begins in your state or territory.Monday, October 267am AEDT: NSW, Victoria, ACT, Tasmania6:30am: ACDT: South Australia6am AEST: Queensland5:30am ACST: Northern Territory4am AWST: Western Australia