Can Kimi Antonelli Win the 2026 F1 Champion Title in Austin or George Russell Still Have a Chance?

The 2026 Formula 1 Championship has reached that uncomfortable stage where I need a calculator, a points table and emotional support for George Russell. After finishing third in Singapore, Kimi Antonelli now leads the championship with 340 points. George is second on 238, leaving a rather painful gap of 102 points with six Grands Prix remaining.

Kimi can become World Champion at the next race in Austin. He needs to win, while George must finish ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton must finish fifth or lower. If all three things happen, the championship is finished and Kimi becomes the youngest World Champion in Formula 1 history.

However, there are several ways George can keep it alive. If Kimi does not win, we continue. If George finishes eighth or higher, we continue. If Lewis finishes fourth or higher, we also continue. So yes, for one weekend, George and Lewis are working together without actually working together.

But what happens if George wins in Austin? (My Scenarios)

First, Kimi cannot become champion there. George would move to 263 points and finally take a proper bite out of the lead. If Kimi finished second, the gap would still be 95 points. If Kimi finished third, it would fall to 92. If Kimi failed to score, George would reduce it to 77 points.

That is still a large gap, but it would give the championship a pulse again. More importantly, it would place pressure on Kimi for the first time in months. Winning is comfortable when everything is going your way. It becomes a different conversation when your teammate starts taking trophies and appearing in your mirrors.

The painful part for George Russell’s fans is that him winning every remaining race may still not be enough if Kimi keeps finishing near the front. If Kimi finishes fifth at all six races, he scores 60 points and becomes champion anyway.

Nothing against Kimi, kinda proud of him and how this kid performed. But I think on a personal perspective it was George’s turn. Still, wish him them both the best.

I still believe luck has played its part. Kimi’s good fortune usually arrives on time, wearing the correct tyres and carrying a strategy sheet. George’s luck appears five minutes late, apologises and then triggers a Virtual Safety Car immediately after he enters the pits.

Lewis, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris are also mathematically alive. Realistically, they need Kimi to stop scoring while they start winning everything. At this point, they are not standing inside the title fight. They are outside the window, waving and hoping somebody notices.

My feeling is that Kimi will become World Champion. He has built the lead, delivered the results and deserves enormous credit. But I do not want Austin to become a quiet celebration while George finishes ninth and I sit here pretending to be emotionally mature.

I want George to win. I want Kimi to feel the pressure. I want Max and Lewis interfering with everything. Most importantly, I want these final six races to feel like a championship fight, not a countdown towards a trophy presentation.

George still has a chance. Lewis, Max, Charles and Lando still have numbers beside their names. Yet Kimi has the points, the consistency and apparently a lifetime membership with the F1 Gods.

Come on, George. Six races remain. Please make the calculator interesting.
Aki Malik