Kimi Antonelli remains the central figure in Formula 1 after the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The Italian widened his lead to 84 points over George Russell, but he still cannot mathematically confirm the title next weekend in Singapore. The first opportunity to clinch the championship will be the United States Grand Prix in Austin.
Antonelli sits on 320 points, compared to 236 for Russell and 214 for Lewis Hamilton. Even with a perfect weekend in Marina Bay and his teammate not scoring, the gap would still not be enough to seal the contest. Singapore, however, represents a significant opportunity to widen the advantage before the season’s final stretch.
Max Verstappen also remained in the spotlight on Monday after his first victory of 2026 in Sepang. The Dutchman’s performance received top marks and praise from the international press, with his display described as dominant. The result also extended a run started in 2016, with Verstappen winning at least one race in every season since then.
The weekend’s success could also have consequences for F1’s own calendar. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed interest in discussing Sepang’s permanent return. The circuit welcomed the sport again in an exceptional manner after nine years, following the Bahrain Grand Prix’s move, and there is already interest in new opportunities ahead of a possible bid for a fixed slot starting in 2028.
Meanwhile, Formula 1 is already directing its attention to Singapore, the 17th round of the season. Marina Bay returns to host the category this week, placing drivers and teams on a street circuit raced at night and noted for its high physical demands.
Fora das pistas, Honda also announced an important leadership change for 2027. Keiichi Yasuda will assume the presidency and CEO role of Honda Racing Corporation in January, replacing Koji Watanabe. Despite the leadership shift, the manufacturer maintains its plans in Formula 1 and will continue as the power unit supplier to Aston Martin.
