Kimi Antonelli expressed relief that Max Verstappen is not in the 2026 Formula 1 title fight after the Red Bull driver dominated the recent Singapore Grand Prix. Verstappen secured maximum points during the Sprint weekend and added to his tally with a win in Malaysia earlier this month. However, he remains too far back to challenge for the championship.

Antonelli could clinch the title at the upcoming race in Austin from October 23-25, needing to outscore George Russell and Lewis Hamilton by 23 and 14 points, respectively.

In Singapore, Antonelli managed to finish third, thanks in part to a strategic decision by Mercedes to equip him with fresh soft tires, allowing him to overtake Lando Norris and Hamilton late in the race. Despite the new upgrades from Mercedes not delivering the expected performance boost, Antonelli remained optimistic.

He stated, "It would be very scary! All in all, I feel like we are doing a great job. We have always been there this season."

At just 20 years old, Antonelli is on track to break Sebastian Vettel's record as the youngest F1 world champion, with six races remaining. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged the high probability of Antonelli's title win but cautioned against complacency, emphasizing the need to score points consistently.

Verstappen's victory wasn't without challenges; he struggled with radio communications throughout the race. Despite these issues, he managed a strong start, fending off a challenge from Charles Leclerc and maintaining control of the race.

Overall, it was a successful weekend for Verstappen, who noted, "It’s been just a fantastic weekend for us. We were flying on the softs and managed the mediums well."