Antonelli takes 102-point lead into Austin title chance

Kimi Antonelli finished third at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, leaving the Mercedes driver with a 102-point lead in the Formula 1 championship and a chance to clinch the title at the next race in Austin. Max Verstappen won the race for Red Bull, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc second. Antonelli’s teammate George Russell, his closest championship rival, has 238 points to Antonelli’s 340. Lewis Hamilton is third in the standings with 229 points, followed by Verstappen on 221. Antonelli can secure the championship at the United States Grand Prix only if he wins, Russell finishes tenth or lower, and Hamilton finishes outside the top five, according to the published points calculation. Six rounds remain, with 150 points available before Austin; after that race, 125 points will remain. If the required results occur, Antonelli would take an unassailable lead with five rounds still to run. Verstappen’s Singapore victory moved him to fourth in the standings and tightened the contest among the drivers behind Antonelli. Leclerc is fifth on 215 points.