By Nimah Alabi
Max Verstappen has been mathematically ruled out of the 2026 Formula One championship after finishing third at the United States Grand Prix in Austin on Sunday, October 25.
The Red Bull driver earned 15 points from the race, but the result was not enough to keep his title hopes alive.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli won the race, taking his points total to 365, while Verstappen remained on 236.
With a gap of 129 points and only five races remaining, Verstappen can no longer catch Antonelli, as a maximum of 125 points is still available.
This marks the first time since 2020 that Verstappen has been eliminated from the title race before the final stages of the season. In 2020, Lewis Hamilton secured the championship with three races remaining.
Verstappen went on to win four consecutive world titles from 2021 to 2024.
He also fought for the championship until the final race in 2025, finishing just two points behind eventual winner Lando Norris.
Although his hopes of winning a fifth title are over for this season, Verstappen can still fight for a better position in the drivers’ standings.
He currently sits fourth, just six points behind George Russell and five behind Lewis Hamilton.
Meanwhile, Antonelli is moving closer to his first world championship after securing his ninth race victory of the season.
The focus now shifts to the remaining five races, with Verstappen looking to finish the season strongly while Antonelli moves closer to securing the title.
