News Summary
- Antonelli acknowledges that Verstappen’s recent form would worry him if the championship gap were smaller.
- Verstappen has taken consecutive grand prix victories in Malaysia and Singapore, collecting 58 points across the two weekends.
- Antonelli leads the championship with 340 points, 119 ahead of Verstappen, and could secure the title at Austin.
Kimi Antonelli has admitted that Max Verstappen’s remarkable resurgence would be a major concern if the Red Bull driver were closer in the Formula 1 championship, acknowledging the threat posed by the four-time world champion following consecutive victories in Malaysia and Singapore.
The Mercedes driver has established a commanding advantage in the standings, with 340 points compared with Verstappen’s 221 after 17 rounds. However, the competitive picture has changed significantly during the second half of the season, with Red Bull transforming the RB22 into a race-winning package.
Verstappen has scored the maximum 58 points available across the last two race weekends, taking pole position and victory in both grands prix as well as winning the Singapore sprint.
Antonelli recognises that such form would be particularly dangerous in a closer title fight, even though the points accumulated earlier in the season have given Mercedes a substantial cushion.
Antonelli admits Verstappen’s form would worry him
Speaking during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, Antonelli acknowledged that Verstappen’s performances have reached a level that would create significant pressure if the championship standings were different.
“If Max weren’t so far behind in the championship, his form would have me very worried,” the Italian said.
The admission reflects the contrast between Mercedes’ season-long consistency and Red Bull’s recent performance.
Verstappen has finished on the podium in his last eight completed grands prix, while his victories in Malaysia and Singapore have demonstrated that the RB22 can compete at the front on circuits with substantially different characteristics.
Antonelli, however, remains focused on maximising his own results rather than reacting to the Dutchman’s recovery.
The 20-year-old said he would not alter his approach to the remaining races, emphasising that his priority is to extract the maximum performance available from the Mercedes at each event.
That position is supported by his championship advantage, which has grown to 102 points over team-mate George Russell, his nearest rival.
Verstappen’s recovery has changed the competitive picture
Red Bull endured a difficult opening half of the season, struggling with the balance of its car and the integration of its new power-unit programme.
The team has since made substantial progress, introducing aerodynamic developments that have improved the RB22’s handling and consistency.
Verstappen’s consecutive victories have raised questions about whether Red Bull has become the strongest team on outright performance, even though Mercedes remains comfortably ahead in the Constructors’ Championship.
The recovery has also created an important distinction between the 2026 title fight and the prospects for next season.
Mercedes has not stood still, however. The German manufacturer recently confirmed that the aerodynamic upgrade used by Antonelli in Singapore was faster than the older specification tested by Russell, although the newer package remains more difficult to optimise.
The development battle is therefore continuing even as Antonelli approaches the possibility of securing his first world championship.
Antonelli remains firmly in control of the championship
Despite Verstappen’s recent dominance, the championship standings remain strongly in Antonelli’s favour.
| Driver | Points after Singapore | Gap to Antonelli |
|---|---|---|
| Kimi Antonelli | 340 | — |
| George Russell | 238 | −102 |
| Lewis Hamilton | 229 | −111 |
| Max Verstappen | 221 | −119 |
| Charles Leclerc | 215 | −125 |
Verstappen’s 119-point deficit means he would need a series of exceptional results, combined with major setbacks for Antonelli, to overturn the championship order.
The more immediate threat to the Mercedes driver remains Russell, who is second in the standings despite losing substantial ground through reliability problems and penalties during the last two rounds.
Antonelli could mathematically secure the title at the United States Grand Prix, although the required combination of results remains demanding.
The championship scenarios for Antonelli to become world champion in Austin show how the Italian could end the title contest before the final five rounds.
Austin offers next test of Mercedes and Red Bull
The United States Grand Prix takes place at the Circuit of The Americas from October 23 to 25, giving Red Bull another opportunity to demonstrate that its recent improvement is sustainable.
Austin features a mixture of high-speed corners, long straights and slower technical sections, providing a different challenge from both Sepang and Singapore.
Verstappen will attempt to secure a third consecutive grand prix victory, while Antonelli will aim to maintain the consistency that has defined his championship campaign.
The Mercedes driver has already demonstrated that he can score heavily even when his car is not the fastest, but Red Bull’s progress has reduced the margin for error during individual race weekends.
The full United States Grand Prix schedule and international start times are available on GRANDE PRÊMIO.
