Kimi Antonelli: So the Mercedes driver can already become Formula 1 world champion in Austin?

Leading driver Kimi Antonelli can already crown himself the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history at the next Grand Prix in the USA (23 to 25 October). This would replace the 20-year-old as record holder Sebastian Vettel (23 years). By Julie Bärthel What is the starting point? In the current season - that is the stand - six races will be held. Since there are no more sprint races to complete, this means that only 150 points (25 points per win) have to be awarded. Before the race in Austin, the Italian leads the drivers’ standings with 102 points ahead of his team-mate George Russell. In addition to Antonelli and Russell, four other colleagues have computational chances for the title. After 17 racesKimi Antonelli340 pointsGeorge Russell238 pointsLewis Hamilton229 pointsMax Verstappen221 pointsCharles Leclerc215 pointsLando Norris201 points Kimi Antonelli will be world champion in Austin if... he wins.Russell is ninth at most.Hamilton is fifth at most.All other candidates (Verstappen, Leclerc and Norris) could then no longer catch up with the Italian. Special case of race cancellation: Which races wobble and why? Due to the war in the Middle East, however, the last two stops in the Formula 1 racing calendar are still shaking Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Already in spring a race should take place in Saudi Arabia, which was postponed to Malaysia due to the violent conflicts. The race took place there in April only on September 4. This time flexibility is eliminated in the season finale. Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali recently confirmed at "Sky Sport Italia" that the premier class continues to plan with the two races. But the tense situation in the region can change daily and make it impossible to hold the two Grands Prix in the short term. This could suddenly turn six remaining races into five, which in turn would affect the distribution of points. Remaining RaceDateGrand Prix25.10.USA (Austin)01.11.Mexico (Mexico City)08.11.Sao Paulo (Interlagos)22.11.Las Vegas (Las Vegas)29.11.Qatar (Lusail)06.12.Abu Dhabi (Yas Island) What alternatives are available for the season finale? According to Domenicali, Plan A remains the regular race calendar, but according to consistent sources, a possible replacement race is being prepared in Imola, Italy. The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari was part of the racing calendar until 2025 and could now unexpectedly become the final host of the Formula 1 season. Thus, the World Cup leader Antonelli could possibly celebrate his first World Cup title in his own home country. In a season finale in Italy, Kimi Antonelli will be world champion in Austin if... he would lose a maximum of two points on Russell.he would lose a maximum of 11 points on Hamilton.he would lose a maximum of 19 points on Verstappen.Leclerc and Norris would then already be eliminated from the title race in advance. Why could Antonelli also become world champion between race weekends? Depending on how many other races there are, the Mercedes driver needs different numbers of points for the title. While the regular race calendar (six races) would be more than 125 points ahead, if the races of Qatar and Abu Dhabi were cancelled, it would only be more than 100 points. Because with the replacement race in Italy a race would be eliminated and there would only be fewer points to get. This could crown the Italian on the "Sofa" instead of on the racetrack. The race organizers want to prevent this if possible, but a decision on the final calendar would then probably have to be made before the US Grand Prix, assuming an Antonelli victory there. Originally, it was already announced for mid-September, a binding deadline is probably but not What happens in the case of a point tie? If there is a point tie between drivers at the end of the season, the number of wins will first decide on the title. Antonelli has already won eight races. Only Russell as the worst pursuer could still overtake him with three successes.