Kimi Antonelli leads George Russell by 66 points with eight races remaining in the 2026 Formula 1 championship. The Mercedes duo have emerged as the only drivers still in contention for the title, with Antonelli calling his last performance in Baku his worst weekend of the season.
Max Verstappen has not challenged for the championship this year for the first time since 2020, despite winning four consecutive titles from 2021 to 2024. Red Bull appears on an upward trajectory after a difficult start to 2026, and Verstappen has the most podiums among non-Mercedes drivers with seven finishes in the top three.
History suggests Verstappen will complicate the title fight between the Mercedes drivers. In 2016, a 19-year-old Verstappen caused headaches for title contenders Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton despite Mercedes having the dominant car. Rosberg described how having Verstappen around increased his risk of a DNF by ten-fold.
Red Bull introduced their final major upgrade package in Baku, including a new floor body, diffuser and sidepods. Team principal Laurent Mekies believes the performance shown gives decent hope for more competitive weekends before the season ends, though he acknowledges some tracks will remain difficult for the car's characteristics.