Andrea Kimi Antonelli is not yet a world champion, but he may already be one.

Although it may not be immediately apparent, Andrea Kimi Antonelli could already be the 2026 Drivers’ World Champion. Setting aside the mathematics, yesterday’s victory in Austin has definitively dashed any hopes for Russell and Hamilton. The driver from Bologna requires just two more points to secure the title mathematically. However, these calculations rest on the assumption that all five remaining races will go ahead as scheduled. Given the situation in the Middle East, it cannot be ruled out that fewer than five races will actually take place. In such a scenario, which is far from remote, Kimi would already be champion after Austin. Yet, regardless of points, calculations, or geopolitics, Kimi is and will remain champion.

In Texas, too, a performance bordering on perfection unfolded. Starting from pole position, a single pit stop, and on he went right to the end without ever faltering. Those behind him tried every type of tyre compound, yet he, a true metronome, lost nothing. It was truly impressive how Antonelli knows how to ‘whisper’ to the tyres, making everything seem effortless. Lap after lap, with the precision of a seasoned leader. For a few minutes, it even looked as though he might clinch the title straight away. We were in the early stages of the race and, during the first pit stops, Hamilton was fifth and Russell tenth (penalised by five seconds for a track limit infringement and a collision with Piastri whilst returning to the pits). A few seconds to savour something that we’ll be able to enjoy for ages to come. We shan’t say anything about the comparison with his team-mate, Russell, who was forced to struggle through a nightmare to scrape home with a lacklustre eighth place. He finished nearly a minute behind, despite following an identical one-stop strategy. Just enough to prolong the agony for another week.

Indeed, for the Englishman, this must be something beyond mere embarrassment. A 123-point gap over 18 races, plus the sprints. An average of nearly seven points lost every weekend. For someone who had won the first race of the season in Australia (it feels like a geological era ago), and who, with a certain arrogance, did not regard his young team-mate as someone to be concerned about. Perhaps George, seeking some respite during what promises to be an extremely challenging winter, might look back at how Kimi started in Austin against Verstappen on a less favourable tyre compound. That image more than any other encapsulates Kimi’s current situation—and it is an image that Russell might use as a motivational spur to plot his comeback.

A closing section dedicated to Ferrari. An excellent weekend: very consistent in practice, less so in qualifying, yet very solid in the race. This was particularly true of Leclerc, who has now set his sights on second place in the drivers’ championship despite currently sitting fourth. Russell, Hamilton and Verstappen are ahead of him by 9, 8 and 3 points respectively. However, the Monegasque driver is in truly excellent form, and the prevailing sentiment after Austin is that Kimi’s runner-up in the standings will be one of these two. The next appointment is in Mexico City next Sunday, where there will be no need for calculations as the outcome is already a foregone conclusion.