Antonelli is two points away from the F1 title, and can win it next week

With his ninth grand prix win of the season on Monday morning (AEDT), Italian Kimi Antonelli put himself on the cusp of winning his maiden Formula 1 drivers' championship. 

The 20-year-old Mercedes pilot has been a class above the rest in 2026, and could have sealed the championship with his victory in Texas on Monday, but other results meant he had to wait at least one more week before popping the champagne. 

Next weekend's Mexican Grand Prix shapes up to be the coronation of Antonelli as an F1 champion. Here is how he can seal the world title.

Antonelli needs just two more points

Heading into Monday's United States Grand Prix, there were still five drivers who could mathematically catch Kimi Antonelli in the race for the title. 

But Antonelli's win reduced his challenges to teammate George Russell and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton. 

Drivers' championship standings

1: 365 — Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2: 242 — George Russell, Mercedes (-123)

3: 241 — Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari (-124)

With just five grands prix left to run, there is a maximum of 125 points a driver can achieve by winning every race. 

Antonelli has 365 points, 123 ahead of Russell and 124 over Hamilton. 

The maximum total Russell and Hamilton can end the season with is 367 and 366 points, respectively. 

That means Antonelli needs to win just one more point to eliminate Hamilton from the title race, and two points to eliminate Russell. 

Antonelli can achieve that in Mexico City by finishing ninth or higher. 

He would also win the title if neither Russell or Hamilton win the race.

Even if Russell or Hamilton finish exactly 100 points adrift of Antonelli at the end of the race in Mexico, with 100 points still available, the Italian would be crowned champion, as his nine grand prix wins cannot be topped by either rival. 

'Very excited' Antonelli wants to win in style

Antonelli has held the lead of the drivers' championship since his victory at the Japanese Grand Prix in round three. 

Despite leading since March, Antonelli has dismissed any and all notions of thinking about winning the drivers' championship in just his second season. 

But with the championship all but won, he has finally been able to acknowledge that only the most calamitous set of circumstances would deny him becoming champion. 

Speaking after his tremendous win in Texas, Antonelli said his mindset for the rest of the 2026 season is to continue pushing and scoring as many points as possible.

"I am very excited. We would love to clinch the title in style with a great result," Antonelli said about his impending title win.

"That's always the mindset, and that is going to be the mindset from now until the end of the season.

"Just going to try and enjoy every moment, because these we'll always remember."

ABC Sport will have a live blog of the F1 Mexican Grand Prix on Monday, November 2, with the race beginning at 7am AEDT.