Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli moved within one race of clinching the 2026 Formula 1 world championship after winning the United States Grand Prix from pole position. The 20-year-old Italian leads team-mate George Russell by 123 points and can secure the title in Mexico City on Sunday by finishing ninth or higher.
Antonelli's dominant season
Antonelli has won nine races this season compared to Russell's three, with standout performances in Monaco, Monza and Austin. While the Mercedes has been the strongest car on average, Antonelli has been the only driver consistently extracting its potential. Team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged Russell's struggles with the new upgrade package introduced in Malaysia, saying the team must find a set-up that suits the British driver. Wolff insisted Russell remains a champion-calibre driver but admitted the performance gap is not down to raw pace.
Hamilton targets African Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton reiterated his desire to race in Formula 1's first African Grand Prix, planned for Rwanda in the early 2030s. The 39-year-old, now with Ferrari, said he is "forced to stay a lot longer" to fulfil that dream. His current contract runs until the end of 2027, and he would need an extension to reach 2030. Hamilton's longevity plans raise questions about Ferrari's driver academy, particularly for Oliver Bearman, who is yet to finalise a new deal with Haas for 2025 while fellow Ferrari junior Rafael Camara joins Haas for 2027.
Albon's difficult season at Williams
Alex Albon trails team-mate Carlos Sainz by just two points in the championship, though Sainz leads the qualifying head-to-head 13-5. Albon cited a crash in Canada that wrote off a new engine, as well as ongoing inconsistencies between the two Williams cars, as factors. The team has struggled with part quality and degradation, making direct comparisons difficult. Fernando Alonso criticised Albon after a first-lap collision in Austin, but Albon says performance has converged over the last four to five weekends.
UK broadcast rights until 2034
Sky Sports holds exclusive live UK rights until the end of 2034, with Channel 4 showing highlights and live coverage of the British Grand Prix. A return to full free-to-air coverage appears unlikely given the current deal and the shift toward streaming platforms.
