The reigning Formula 1 champion walked into the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez paddock on Thursday looking less like a defender and more like a bystander. Lando Norris was mathematically eliminated from the drivers’ standings a fortnight ago in Austin, leaving the 2026 title as a Mercedes affair that Andrea Kimi Antonelli can seal this weekend.
The Briton did not try to dress up the year when he spoke in Mexico.
“I know I’ve had a pretty horrible defensive title, but there’s not much more I could have done,” Norris told RaceFans, adding that he felt he had “driven a very, very good season”.
The gap behind Mercedes
The numbers back the resignation. Antonelli sits on 365 points, 123 clear of team-mate George Russell and 124 ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Norris were all mathematically eliminated from contention in Austin, with Norris sixth in the standings, a long way back for a reigning champion with five races to run.
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McLaren’s year has slipped at team level too. The Woking squad has dropped to fourth in the constructors’ championship, well off a Mercedes team on course for the title. Pressed on what has gone wrong, Norris pointed at the hardware rather than himself, telling RaceFans: “We just have another car [to Mercedes] and that’s nothing that’s really in my control.”
Youngest champion in waiting
Norris was careful to credit the man taking his place. Antonelli, 20, has nine race wins to Russell’s three across the season and would become F1’s youngest ever champion at 20 years and 68 days, breaking Sebastian Vettel’s record if he clinches on Sunday.
“I think it’s very impressive what he’s been able to do at his age, in his second year in Formula 1, and he’s going to be the youngest world champion ever,” Norris told Motorsport Week.
He added that the Italian had “taken quite a huge step” from his rookie season, singling out Antonelli’s handling of pressure, his lack of errors in qualifying and race trim, and the margin he has carried over Russell as the markers of a title year. Russell, he said, remained a driver he rates, “but Kimi has been two levels above George the whole season”.
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What Antonelli needs on Sunday
The arithmetic for the title is simple. Ninth place or better in the Mexico City Grand Prix guarantees Antonelli the championship regardless of what Russell or Hamilton do, and if neither of those two wins the race, the Italian is champion even without scoring a point. There are 125 points available this weekend and only 100 left on the board after it.
Lights out at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is on Sunday.
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