Even Finishing Second in Every Remaining Race Will Make Antonelli World Champion

With eight rounds remaining in the Formula 1 season, a maximum of 208 points are still on the table (200 from the Grands Prix plus 8 from the sprint in Singapore).

Heading into the final eight race weekends, Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers' championship with 302 points—holding a 66-point cushion over teammate George Russell. The Briton enjoyed a stellar weekend in Baku last time out, clawing back 15 points with a commanding victory, while Antonelli salvaged fifth after starting 16th due to a crash in qualifying.

Following the race in Azerbaijan, Antonelli conceded that his outing along the Caspian Sea was his "worst" of the campaign so far. However, a repeat of that performance seems unlikely, and simple arithmetic shows he does not even need to win another race this year to be crowned world champion.

Even if Russell wins all eight remaining Grands Prix and next week's Singapore sprint with Antonelli finishing runner-up every time, the Briton would still fall short. Under that scenario, Russell would finish the season on 444 points to Antonelli's 453, making the teenager the first Italian Formula 1 world champion since Alberto Ascari back in 1953.