Max Verstappen is positioned to claim second in the 2026 Formula 1 drivers’ standings, according to a RacingNews365 fan poll, as the title fight heads into the decisive flyaway phase.

Kimi Antonelli, 20, holds a 102-point advantage over George Russell. The Italian can seal the championship at the United States Grand Prix if he wins and Russell finishes ninth or lower.

Behind Antonelli, margins remain tight. Russell leads Lewis Hamilton by nine points and sits 17 clear of Verstappen. Leclerc is 23 behind Russell, with Norris 37 adrift, leaving Russell’s title chances delicate.

The poll places Verstappen as clear favourite for second. He earns 60.5 percent of votes, ahead of Hamilton on 21.2 percent. Russell takes nearly 12 percent, with Leclerc just over six.

Norris receives minimal backing, collecting a single vote.

Form backs the polling. Verstappen has seven podiums from the last eight races and won in Malaysia and Singapore, where his race management under pressure underlined renewed momentum.

Mercedes remains the key reference in this fight. Russell’s consistency contrasts with Hamilton’s bursts of pace and experience, alongside the Briton’s vocal stance on F1 changes shaping the competitive landscape.

The calendar still offers significant opportunity. The United States, Mexico City, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi provide enough points for late swings if execution, reliability, and strategy align.

Small errors could decide the order behind Antonelli. Pit stop discipline, tyre management, and safety-car timing remain decisive, especially with the field compressed by development updates and the budget cap’s trade-offs.

Verstappen’s adaptability, highlighted in his recent performances, explains the fan confidence. Yet Russell’s clean weekends, if maintained, can hold the line, particularly if Mercedes avoids unnecessary risk or reliability exposure.

Incidents and component wear can still reshape the fight, as seen when Russell’s compromised parts contributed to setbacks. Every retirement or penalty carries outsized leverage at this stage.

Antonelli’s dominance looks unassailable. The battle for second tilts toward Verstappen on form and sentiment, but with margins narrow, execution over the next six rounds will decide Mercedes’ internal order and Verstappen’s ceiling.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.