On Tuesday the 27th of the Formula 1 season, the day was marked by the confirmation that Max Verstappen no longer has any mathematical chances of winning the 2026 World Championship, by the movements in the driver market for 2027, and by the preparations for the Mexico City Grand Prix. While Kimi Antonelli moves closer to his first title, Red Bull, McLaren, and Aston Martin are discussing the issues that still need resolution.
For the first time since 2020, Verstappen arrives at the final stretch of a season with no mathematical possibility of being champion. His third place at the United States Grand Prix definitively ended his chances, despite the comeback shown by Red Bull in the latest races. The Dutch driver sits on 236 points, compared to 365 for Antonelli, who needs only two points in Mexico to secure the title ahead of schedule.
The Red Bull team also confirmed that it will review the strategy used in Austin, after Verstappen questioned the decision to employ two runs on soft tires before switching to mediums. Laurent Mekies acknowledged that the degradation in the second stint was greater than expected, but ruled out attributing the defeat solely to the strategy. According to the official, Antonelli simply delivered a superior pace.
In Mercedes, the weekend that could decide the championship will feature a significant change. George Russell will cede his car to Frederik Vesti in the FP1 session of the Mexico City Grand Prix, fulfilling part of the team’s commitments to young drivers. Even though he needs to win to keep his mathematical possibilities alive, the British driver will miss the first practice session, while Antonelli will have the opportunity to secure the title.
The market for 2027 also gained prominence, especially in Cadillac. Frederik Vesti emerged as another possible option for the team, joining the names tied to a potential replacement for Bottas, among them Colton Herta. Despite holding a multi-year contract, the Finn has not yet received public confirmation of his continued stay. Bottas downplayed the speculation and said he was aware of his contractual situation.
Another development involves McLaren, which confirmed Leonardo Fornaroli for FP1 sessions at the Mexico City and Sao Paulo Grands Prix. The Italian will have two new opportunities to drive the MCL40, following simulator preparation and tests with previous cars. The team also drew headlines for Lando Norris’s criticisms, who pointed to the car’s low-speed corners as a flaw, though Andrea Stella deemed Norris’s assessment of the car’s qualifying potential in Austin to be exaggerated.
Thinking ahead to 2027, Honda presented its plan to reduce Aston Martin’s disadvantage. The manufacturer foresees two major power unit upgrades, one at the start of the next season and another with the Monaco Grand Prix as a reference. Chief engineer Shintaro Orihara acknowledged that the first package is not expected to place Honda among the top contenders yet.
The day also brought a special surprise for Mexican fans. Sergio Pérez unveiled a helmet inspired by the culture of his country for Cadillac’s home race. The driver will also participate in a public demonstration in Mexico City on Wednesday (the 28th), before the official track activities at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Thus, Formula 1 arrives at the week of the Mexico City Grand Prix with the possibility of an early decision in the Drivers’ World Championship, a free-for-all for team positions, and important decisions beginning to take shape for the 2027 season.
