Verstappen mathematically out of title fight despite United States GP podium

Max Verstappen’s podium at the United States Grand Prix could not keep him in the 2026 title fight. Kimi Antonelli’s victory left Verstappen 129 points behind with five races remaining, mathematically out of reach.

Antonelli had entered the race 119 points ahead, and a win would be enough to eliminate Verstappen. He won on a one-stop strategy, while Red Bull’s more aggressive two-stop plan for Verstappen failed to pay off. Verstappen found himself in dirty air and could not make up enough time on his new soft tyres.

Charles Leclerc, on fresher hard tyres, passed Verstappen in the closing stages. The last time Verstappen was eliminated from title contention before a season’s final race was in 2020. A retirement at Imola left him unable to make up the deficit to Lewis Hamilton, who clinched his seventh title in Turkey one race later.

Verstappen can still pursue second in the standings: George Russell has 242 points, Lewis Hamilton 241, Verstappen 236 and Leclerc 233.