F1 today: Antonelli title chance, Horner’s Mercedes revelations and major 2028 rule reversal

News Summary

• Kimi Antonelli can win the 2026 Formula 1 championship in Austin, with Christian Horner arguing that Mercedes should recognise him as its leading driver.
• Formula 1 plans to restore 305km Grands Prix in 2028, after temporarily reducing race distances to 290km in 2027.
• Max Verstappen can equal Lewis Hamilton’s Austin victory record, while Colton Herta prepares to drive Cadillac’s car in Friday practice.

Formula 1’s preparations for the United States Grand Prix dominated the news on Tuesday, October 20, with Kimi Antonelli approaching his first opportunity to secure the world championship, Christian Horner revealing previously unknown details about Mercedes and the FIA’s latest regulations pointing towards another major change in 2028.

Max Verstappen also enters Austin with a chance to equal Lewis Hamilton’s record of five victories at Circuit of The Americas, while Cadillac has confirmed that Colton Herta will replace Sergio Pérez during Friday’s opening practice session.

Here are the main Formula 1 stories published by GRANDE PRÊMIO on October 20.

Antonelli can become F1 champion in Austin — but needs help

Kimi Antonelli enters the United States Grand Prix with a 102-point championship lead over George Russell, giving the Mercedes driver his first opportunity to secure the 2026 world title.

The Italian must win Sunday’s race, with Russell finishing ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton fifth or lower, to establish an unassailable advantage with five Grands Prix remaining.

Antonelli has already won eight races this season and could become Formula 1’s youngest world champion, breaking Sebastian Vettel’s record.

The complete Austin championship scenarios explain the exact results Antonelli needs, including how the victory countback could decide the championship.

Horner urges Mercedes to prioritise Antonelli over Russell

Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes Antonelli has earned the right to be recognised as Mercedes’ leading driver, arguing that teams risk losing championships when they refuse to acknowledge a clear performance advantage.

Horner pointed to Williams’ defeat in the 1986 Drivers’ Championship, when Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet competed against each other while Alain Prost secured the title for McLaren.

His comments contrast with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff’s insistence that Antonelli and Russell continue receiving equal treatment.

Horner warned Mercedes against maintaining two equal championship contenders when one driver has established a substantial advantage through results.

Horner reveals why he rejected Mercedes before Wolff’s arrival

Horner also revealed that Niki Lauda offered him the opportunity to lead Mercedes in late 2012, before Toto Wolff joined the organisation.

According to the former Red Bull boss, Lauda personally visited his home with a lucrative proposal while Mercedes was preparing to welcome Hamilton for the 2013 season.

Horner rejected the offer because of his loyalty to Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz and the team he had led since 2005.

Horner’s account of the Mercedes offer reveals how close he came to joining the team before its hybrid-era dominance.

F1 prepares to restore traditional 305km races in 2028

Formula 1’s shorter 290km Grands Prix are set to last only one season, with the proposed 2028 regulations restoring the traditional minimum race distance of 305km.

The reduction planned for 2027 was introduced to accommodate increased fuel-energy flow and reduce the immediate need for expensive changes to fuel-tank packaging.

However, Article B2.5.2 of the proposed 2028 Sporting Regulations establishes the return to 305km, with Monaco retaining its shorter 260km requirement.

The planned return to 305km races in 2028 raises new questions about fuel consumption and tank capacity, particularly as combustion-engine output is scheduled to increase.

Verstappen can equal Hamilton’s historic Austin record

Max Verstappen needs one more victory at Circuit of The Americas to equal Lewis Hamilton’s record of five wins at the Texas venue.

Hamilton won at Austin in 2012 and four consecutive times between 2014 and 2017, while Verstappen claimed victories in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025.

The Red Bull driver arrives after consecutive wins in Malaysia and Singapore, having recovered strongly during the second half of the season.

Verstappen’s four Austin victories leave him one win away from matching Hamilton’s Circuit of The Americas record.

Herta replaces Pérez for Cadillac’s Austin practice session

Colton Herta will replace Sergio Pérez in Cadillac’s opening practice session at the United States Grand Prix, making his fourth official Formula 1 practice appearance of 2026.

The American returns to the circuit where he claimed his first IndyCar victory in 2019, becoming the youngest winner in the championship’s history.

Herta’s appearance forms part of Cadillac’s development programme, with Pérez returning to the car for FP2 and the remainder of the weekend.

Herta’s Cadillac appearance at Austin brings the American back to the scene of his first IndyCar triumph.

McLaren faces Red Bull threat after losing 83-point advantage

McLaren’s advantage over Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship has fallen from 83 points to just seven, reflecting Verstappen’s remarkable recovery during the second half of the season.

Red Bull has become the strongest points-scoring team since the summer break, while McLaren has struggled to maintain its earlier competitiveness.

The battle for third place now represents one of the most important championship contests during the final six rounds.

McLaren’s shrinking advantage over Red Bull has transformed the fight for third in the 2026 Constructors’ Championship.

When is the United States Grand Prix?

The United States Grand Prix takes place at Circuit of The Americas on October 23–25.

The full international qualifying guide provides start times for the United States, United Kingdom, India, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.