Las Vegas Grand Prix 2026: Antonelli Already Champion as Verstappen, Russell and Hamilton Fight for Second

Formula 1 cars racing down the Las Vegas Strip at night


Formula 1 heads to the Las Vegas Strip with both world championships already decided — and still plenty left to fight for. Kimi Antonelli has already clinched the 2026 drivers' title for Mercedes, and Mercedes has wrapped up the constructors' championship, but the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday, November 21, 2026, opens a three-race run-in that will decide second place in the drivers' standings, second in the constructors' race, and millions of dollars in prize money.

The Short Answer

Kimi Antonelli is already the 2026 Formula 1 world champion with 390 points, and Mercedes has clinched the constructors' title with 652 points. The Las Vegas Grand Prix, round 21 of 23, takes place on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 8 p.m. local time (11 p.m. ET) on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Max Verstappen is second on 279 points, just 17 ahead of George Russell on 262 and 18 ahead of Lewis Hamilton on 261, so the fight for second place is wide open with three races remaining.

Antonelli's Historic Championship Season

Antonelli's title is one of the great breakthrough stories in Formula 1 history. At 20 years and 68 days, he is the youngest world champion the sport has ever seen. The Mercedes driver has nine wins, seven pole positions and 16 podium finishes this season, and he leads four-time world champion Max Verstappen by 111 points with three rounds to go. He cannot be caught.

Mercedes has also secured the constructors' championship, with 652 points and 12 race wins, ahead of Ferrari on 510 points. The Silver Arrows' dominance has defined the season, but the races behind them have been anything but settled — and that is where the drama now lives.

The Fight for Second Place

Verstappen holds second place on 279 points, but the chasing pack is right behind him. George Russell, Antonelli's Mercedes teammate, is third on 262 points, just 17 behind the Red Bull driver. Lewis Hamilton is fourth on 261, a single point behind Russell, with Charles Leclerc fifth on 249 and Lando Norris sixth on 246. Just 16 points separate third from sixth, so a single race weekend can completely reorder the standings.

Verstappen arrives in Las Vegas in strong form. In São Paulo on November 8, he charged from 21st on the grid to second place, underlining why he remains one of the strongest racers under the lights and on circuits that reward confidence under braking. The Las Vegas street circuit, with its long straights and low-grip surface, should suit the Red Bull, and Verstappen will be targeting another victory before the season concludes.

Formula 1 podium celebration with confetti


McLaren's São Paulo Disqualification

The São Paulo Grand Prix also produced the season's biggest controversy. Lando Norris won the race on the road at Interlagos, but he and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri were both disqualified after the race when their cars failed post-race inspection for excessive plank wear. The disqualifications stripped both drivers of their points from Brazil and reshaped the standings, with Norris falling to sixth on 246 points and Piastri seventh on 152.

McLaren will be keen for a response in Las Vegas. The team sits fourth in the constructors' standings on 398 points, 17 behind Red Bull on 415 in the battle for third place, and Norris and Piastri will both want to translate their race pace into a stronger weekend on a circuit where qualifying and overtaking opportunities matter equally.

What to Watch in Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Grand Prix is a standard weekend with no sprint race. Practice begins on Thursday, November 19, qualifying takes place on Friday, November 20, and the race is on Saturday, November 21, at 8 p.m. local time under the lights of the famous Strip. The 6.2-kilometre street circuit runs past the city's most famous landmarks, and the cold desert night air and low-grip surface make it one of the trickiest races on the calendar.

After Las Vegas, the season heads to Qatar and then Abu Dhabi for the finale, with three rounds remaining in total. With both championships decided, the closing weeks are about pride, prize money and positioning: Verstappen against Russell and Hamilton for second, Red Bull against McLaren for third in the constructors' standings, and every driver in the midfield fighting for a better contract case in 2027. For more motorsport coverage, see our report on Norris' win in São Paulo and Mercedes' constructors' title, and follow the latest Formula 1 news and standings as the season run-in continues.

Read Also

More sports coverage from TrendWire Daily: Lando Norris Wins São Paulo Grand Prix as Mercedes Clinch Constructors' Title and Kirk Cousins Returns to the Vikings in Blockbuster NFL Trade Deadline Deal.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Las Vegas Grand Prix 2026?

The Las Vegas Grand Prix takes place on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 8 p.m. local time (11 p.m. ET) on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit. It is round 21 of 23 in the 2026 Formula 1 season, with practice on Thursday, November 19, and qualifying on Friday, November 20.

Who is the 2026 Formula 1 world champion?

Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes is the 2026 world champion. At 20 years and 68 days, he is the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history, with nine wins, seven poles and 16 podiums this season and 390 points.

What are the F1 drivers' standings before Las Vegas?

The top six are: 1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 390 points, 2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 279, 3. George Russell (Mercedes) 262, 4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 261, 5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 249, 6. Lando Norris (McLaren) 246. Oscar Piastri is seventh on 152.

Why were Norris and Piastri disqualified in São Paulo?

Norris won the São Paulo Grand Prix on the road, but both McLarens were disqualified after the race when their cars failed post-race inspection for excessive plank wear — the skid block under the car was worn below the minimum thickness. Both drivers lost all their points from the race.

Who won the constructors' championship in 2026?

Mercedes clinched the constructors' championship in Brazil with 652 points and 12 race wins. Ferrari is second on 510 points, Red Bull third on 415 and McLaren fourth on 398.

How many races are left in the 2026 F1 season?

Three rounds remain after São Paulo: the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 21, followed by Qatar and the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Related: Lando Norris Wins São Paulo Grand Prix | Kirk Cousins Returns to the Vikings | Packers Beat Patriots 45-27

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