Hamilton concedes F1 title as Antonelli builds commanding lead – Lewis Hamilton has conceded that Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes appear to be out of reach in the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship after another costly retirement in Madrid.
The Ferrari driver lasted just seven laps of the Spanish Grand Prix before a mechanical failure ended his debut at the newly built Madring circuit, leaving him 101 points behind the championship leader with nine race weekends remaining.
Hamilton’s latest setback prompted him to congratulate Antonelli and Mercedes on what he already considers to be a deserved championship success.
Hamilton sees Mercedes as unstoppable
Speaking to Sky Sports on Sunday after his retirement, Hamilton said: “I believe Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes are unstoppable this year.”
The seven-time world champion also praised Mercedes for the work that has put Antonelli in such a strong position, saying the team with the three-pointed star had “done a phenomenal job” and “deserved” their success in the current Formula 1 season.
Hamilton’s comments underline the scale of the challenge facing Ferrari. Although there are still nine race weekends remaining, the 191 points he has accumulated leave him 101 points behind Antonelli.
The Madrid retirement was particularly damaging because Hamilton was unable to score while his main championship rivals continued to build their totals.
Antonelli refuses to look beyond the next race
Antonelli, however, is not treating the championship as decided despite his increasingly commanding advantage.
After securing victory at the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix on the Madring circuit, the 20-year-old insisted that his focus remains on producing strong performances rather than calculating his championship position.
“I want to keep pushing race after race, continue to deliver good performances, enjoy the whole experience to the fullest, and try to give my best in every race – then we’ll see where we stand at the end of the year,” Antonelli said.
That approach has served the Mercedes driver well. His victory in Madrid extended his advantage over teammate George Russell to 81 points, with Russell currently occupying second place in the championship.
Russell remains Hamilton’s closest challenger
Russell has 211 points after the Madrid race, while Hamilton sits third on 191. Hamilton is therefore 20 points behind his fellow Briton despite Ferrari’s title ambitions.
Lando Norris follows in fourth on 186 points, just five behind Hamilton, while Charles Leclerc has 167 points in fifth.
Max Verstappen remains sixth on 145 points, although the Red Bull driver’s deficit to Antonelli has now reached 147 points.
With so many points still available, the championship cannot mathematically be considered over. However, Antonelli’s combination of race-winning form and his substantial points advantage has made Mercedes the clear benchmark in the current title battle.
For Hamilton, meanwhile, the priority is now to reverse a run of results that has seen his championship hopes fade rapidly.
2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship
| Position | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 292 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 211 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 191 |
| 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 186 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 167 |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 145 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 120 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | 71 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 59 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 41 |
| 11 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 31 |
| 12 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 27 |
| 13 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 18 |
| 14 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 10 |
| 15 | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi | 7 |
| 16 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 6 |
| 17 | Alex Albon | Williams | 5 |
| 18 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 3 |
| 19 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 3 |
| 20 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | 1 |
| 21 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 0 |
| 22 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | 0 |
| 23 | Sergio Pérez | Cadillac | 0 |
Craig Alderson is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Craig oversees newsroom operations and coordinates editorial output across the site. With a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing, he plays a key role in maintaining consistency, speed, and accuracy in TJ13’s coverage.
During race weekends, Craig acts as desk lead, directing contributors, prioritising breaking stories, and ensuring timely publication across a fast-moving news cycle.
Craig’s work focuses heavily on real-time developments in the paddock, including team updates, regulatory decisions, and emerging controversies. This role requires a detailed understanding of Formula 1’s operational flow, from practice sessions through to race-day strategy and post-race fallout.
With experience managing editorial teams, Craig ensures that TJ13 delivers structured, reliable coverage while maintaining the site’s distinctive voice.
Craig has a particular interest in how information moves within the paddock environment, and how rapidly developing stories can be accurately translated into clear, accessible reporting for readers.
Alex Stanton is a Formula 1 journalist at TJ13 with a focus on the financial and commercial dynamics that underpin the sport. Alex contributes reporting and analysis on team ownership structures, sponsorship trends, and the evolving business model of Formula 1.
At TJ13, Alex covers topics including manufacturer investment, cost cap implications, and the strategic direction of teams navigating an increasingly complex financial environment. Alex’s work often examines how commercial decisions translate into on-track performance and long-term competitiveness.
With a strong interest in the intersection of sport and business, Alex provides context around Formula 1’s global growth, including media rights, expansion markets, and manufacturer influence.
Alex’s reporting aims to explain the financial realities behind headline stories, helping readers understand how money, governance, and strategy shape the competitive order in Formula 1.
One of the greatest non existent title challenges of our time. Hamilton hasn’t beaten Kimi once all season other than when Kimi DNF’d. Reminds me somewhat of when Maldonado also won at Barcelona in 2012 and declared himself a title contender.
.