Kimi Antonelli has dominated the 2026 Formula 1 season, winning nine races and effectively killing off the title fight with five Grands Prix still remaining. Yet behind the 20-year-old Italian, the championship could hardly be tighter: remove Kimi Antonelli from the equation and George Russell would lead Lewis Hamilton by just one point, with Max Verstappen six points behind and Charles Leclerc only nine adrift.
It is an imaginary scenario, of course, but one that makes the reality of Kimi Antonelli’s extraordinary season even clearer. The Mercedes driver is now just two points away from the title and could settle the championship in Mexico, having built his advantage through a combination of speed, determination and consistency. At the same time, the hypothetical standings reveal just how intense the battle behind the likely champion remains.
What the 2026 F1 standings would look like without Kimi Antonelli
What if we tried something different and simply removed Kimi Antonelli from this championship? The result would be an extraordinarily close Formula 1 season. George Russell would be leading, Lewis Hamilton would sit just one point behind his fellow Briton, Max Verstappen would trail by six points and Charles Leclerc by nine. Even reigning world champion Lando Norris, 31 points from the hypothetical lead, would remain firmly in contention.
The comparison underlines two things. The first is the scale of what Kimi Antonelli has achieved. At only 20 years old, the Italian has taken control of the championship and stands on the brink of the crown. For anyone wanting to explore the remaining mathematical possibilities, the F1 Championship Points Calculator shows how the title scenarios can change over the final rounds.
Ferrari remains in the fight with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
Despite mistakes and strategic decisions that have cost points along the way, Ferrari is still in the fight for a significant championship result. Charles Leclerc’s season has been characterised by flashes of brilliance and standout podiums, including his second place at the United States Grand Prix in Austin. Lewis Hamilton, by contrast, has generally been the more consistent presence, steadily accumulating results throughout the year.
At 41, Lewis Hamilton remains right among the drivers fighting for the most important positions. He has not reached this point through experience alone, but also through the determination that has continued to define his season. The latest developments across Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari campaign underline how relevant the seven-time world champion remains in the closing stages of 2026.
In this imaginary championship, George Russell would also have his opportunity for redemption. It has not been an easy season for the other Mercedes driver, and Austin made the difference between his campaign and Kimi Antonelli’s even more striking. With the same car available to both drivers, George Russell has not managed to match his teammate. Ironically, however, removing Kimi Antonelli from the standings would leave George Russell at the top of the championship.
Without Kimi Antonelli, the F1 title fight would still be wide open
Kimi Antonelli is almost the perfect embodiment of the classic Moretti dilemma: do you attract more attention by going to the party or by staying at home? On the track, there has certainly been no missing him. Yet taking him away for a moment makes the 2026 Formula 1 season look dramatically more uncertain.
Consider Max Verstappen. Red Bull struggled badly at the beginning of the championship, but after improving the car the Dutchman would now be only a few points away from George Russell in this hypothetical table. McLaren has also played its part. Lando Norris would face a deficit that is far from impossible to recover, while Oscar Piastri would be 98 points behind George Russell, who currently sits second in the real championship.
There are still five Grands Prix to go and 125 points available. Without Kimi Antonelli, the fight really could remain open until the final corner of the season. Mexico comes first, followed by Brazil and Las Vegas, before Qatar and Abu Dhabi complete the campaign – unless the situation in the Middle East brings the possibility of Imola back into consideration, with a decision expected on November 10. The remaining rounds and dates can be followed through the complete 2026 Formula 1 calendar.
Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari can still target second place
Fortunately, this is not an H.G. Wells novel, and Kimi Antonelli is very much part of the championship he has deservedly taken control of. The reality is hardly disappointing either. Formula 1 has continued to attract huge audiences in 2026, with Austin recording an attendance figure of 467,000 spectators, while new initiatives have continued to bring fresh fans towards the sport.
Once Kimi Antonelli converts his championship match point, the battle for second place could effectively become a new championship of its own. Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari would then have a genuine opportunity to secure the runner-up position, with George Russell likely to be one of the main rivals standing in their way.
Second place may appear to be a modest consolation when the world title is out of reach, but it could also offer a glimpse of what comes next. If the balance of performance remains this close in 2027, Formula 1 could enter another season in which Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren are separated by the smallest of margins. This time, the fight at the front could be much harder for anyone to dominate.
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