Antonelli Can Clinch the F1 Title in Austin as Verstappen Chases a Third Straight Win

The 2026 Formula 1 season has reached its decisive stretch. Six Grands Prix remain, the championship leader has his first match point this weekend, and the sport's most successful current driver has found his form at exactly the wrong moment for the rest of the grid. Practice opens today at the Circuit of the Americas, and this guide pulls together the latest F1 news, race results and standings so you know what is at stake before the lights go out.

Can Antonelli win the F1 world championship in Austin?

Yes, but it is a narrow path. After finishing third in Singapore, Kimi Antonelli has 340 points to Russell's 238. Five rounds will remain after Austin with a maximum of 125 points on offer, so Antonelli needs to stretch his advantage from 102 to at least 125. That means outscoring his Mercedes team-mate by 23 points on Sunday.

The clinching scenario is specific: Antonelli must win the race, Russell must finish ninth or lower, and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton must finish fifth or lower. A win would also end the mathematical hopes of Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, leaving Russell and Hamilton as the only drivers still in the fight.

If Antonelli does not complete the job, the championship carries on to Mexico City. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has said he does not expect the title to be settled this weekend, while the team has also described Antonelli's chances of winning the crown as close to certain over the full season, with some risks to manage.

Singapore Grand Prix result: Verstappen wins from pole

Max Verstappen won the Singapore Grand Prix for the first time in his career, leading from pole position in his Red Bull and taking the flag 7.3 seconds clear of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. It was his second victory of 2026 and came a week after he won the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was run in Malaysia this season.

Verstappen held off an early challenge from Leclerc off the line, then pulled away before Leclerc, on faster soft tyres, closed the gap late on. Antonelli completed the podium in third, while Russell recovered from a back-of-the-grid start, caused by an engine penalty, to finish ninth and salvage points.

Hamilton's afternoon was compromised by a strategy gamble. He started on mediums, pitted early, could not find a way past Leclerc and was left on worn tyres after staying out under the virtual safety car. He later apologised for the call. Piastri passed him in the closing laps, and Gabriel Bortoleto, Franco Colapinto and Lance Stroll were the three retirements.

Sprint race: chaos in the wet

Saturday's first-ever Singapore sprint was a rain-delayed, safety-car-interrupted scramble. Russell took the lead from Verstappen at the start but lost control on a wet kerb and crashed at the end of the first lap. Verstappen inherited the lead and won from pole, with Ferrari's Hamilton and Leclerc completing the podium.

Antonelli finished fourth after starting seventh, a result gifted when the McLaren pair ahead of him collided on the final lap. Norris limped home eighth for a single point, while Piastri was classified 14th a lap down.

F1 team news: Ferrari update, Russell penalty, Red Bull revival

Red Bull find their pace

Red Bull went through the opening 15 rounds without a Grand Prix win. Verstappen has now won in Malaysia and Singapore back to back, and he arrives in Austin fourth in the standings, 119 points behind Antonelli. His title hopes are slim, but he is the driver most likely to spoil Mercedes' weekend on pace.

Ferrari bring another SF-26 upgrade

Ferrari are taking a second substantial update for the SF-26 to Texas. With Leclerc second in Singapore and Hamilton on the podium in the sprint, the team has momentum, and Hamilton sits third in the championship, 111 points off the lead.

Russell's engine penalties

Russell started Singapore from 19th after a major power-unit penalty. Mercedes have indicated he could postpone another penalty until Las Vegas rather than compromise his Austin weekend, a decision that matters because he needs a strong result to keep the title race alive.

McLaren still looking for answers

Reigning champion Norris was fourth in Singapore with Piastri fifth on the road before a late pass dropped him behind Hamilton. The sprint-day contact between the two papaya cars cost them points and gave Antonelli a free fourth place, a reminder of how costly team-mate battles can be in a title run-in.

United States Grand Prix preview: time, distance and schedule

The United States Grand Prix is round 18 of the season and the first race of a triple-header that continues in Mexico City and São Paulo. Practice starts today, 23 October, and the race is on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, which is 22:00 South African Standard Time. The distance is 56 laps of the 5.513 km Circuit of the Americas, or 308.432 km.

Coverage of the final stretch notes some uncertainty over the last two races of the year, so check the official calendar before planning around the Qatar and Abu Dhabi dates.

Formula 1 FAQ

For more race reports, standings and analysis, browse the Techm Studios Formula 1 hub, and follow the Antonelli, Verstappen and Hamilton storylines as the F1 championship reaches its climax.

Sources

1. Crash.net: Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix full race results
2. PlanetF1: Singapore Grand Prix 2026 race results
3. RacingNews365: 2026 F1 Singapore Grand Prix results and calendar
4. Crash.net: Singapore Grand Prix sprint race results
5. The Race: Singapore sprint race result
6. Bernama/dpa: Verstappen wins Singapore sprint after Russell meets disaster
7. Read Motorsport: F1 race week, Antonelli eyes title as championship heads to Austin
8. ESPN: How Kimi Antonelli can win the F1 title at the United States GP
9. Grande Prêmio: Can Antonelli win the F1 title in Austin? Every result he needs
10. UNN: F1 Grand Prix in Austin, weekend schedule and the championship standings
11. The Rio Times: US Grand Prix weekend opens in Austin
12. Top Gear NL: Uitslag GP van Singapore 2026 en WK-stand

Results and standings are accurate as of 23 October 2026 and will change after the United States Grand Prix. Techm Studios is not affiliated with Formula 1, the FIA or any team.