Antonelli extends 2026 F1 championship lead after Spanish GP win
Kimi Antonelli increased his advantage in the 2026 Formula 1 drivers’ standings with his eighth victory of the season at the Spanish Grand Prix. After 14 rounds, he leads Mercedes team-mate George Russell by 81 points, with Lewis Hamilton 101 behind and Lando Norris 106 adrift.
Antonelli’s win in Spain was his eighth of the 2026 season and further strengthened his position at the top of the championship. After 14 grands prix, the Mercedes driver holds an 81-point lead over team-mate George Russell in second place.
The standings gaps behind Antonelli are also substantial elsewhere, with Lewis Hamilton 101 points back and Lando Norris 106 behind. Motorsport.com noted that the largest championship deficit previously overturned was the 46-point gap Max Verstappen faced to Charles Leclerc in 2022.
Antonelli’s campaign has also drawn praise from 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, who said he had been astonished by the young driver’s maturity during the 2026 season. PlanetF1 also reported Antonelli saying after the Spanish Grand Prix that he had to be realistic and honest.
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