The championship
How the F1 title is decided: clinching maths and title scenarios
A world championship is won the moment no rival can catch the leader, even if their rival wins every remaining race. Working that out is simple arithmetic, and it's what our title scenarios tool does for you.
Points still available
Since the fastest lap point was dropped in 2025, the most a driver can score at a grand prix weekend is 25 points, or 33 on a sprint weekend (25 for the race plus 8 for the sprint). Add those up for every round left, and you have the maximum any driver can still gain.
When the title is won
The leader is champion as soon as their lead over each rival is bigger than the points still available. If the lead is exactly equal to the points left, the rival can still draw level by winning everything, and then the title goes to whoever has more wins (see tie-breaks). So the true test is: could the rival finish level or ahead, counting wins as the tie-breaker?
It has to be checked against every rival who can still win, not just second place. A driver in third with more wins than the leader can sometimes stay alive longer than the driver in second.
The 2026 picture
Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads on 340 points, 102 ahead of George Russell. There are 150 points left over 6 rounds, and 6 drivers can still win the title. Try the title scenarios.
Using title scenarios
Our title scenarios page lists every remaining race and sprint, with a box for each contender. Pick where you think each one finishes, and the projected table updates as you go, showing the final points, the margin and the race where the title would be clinched. Two shortcuts help:
- Wins out gives one driver every remaining win: the best case for them.
- Current form puts everyone where they've typically finished this season.
Each scenario has its own link, so you can share your prediction and see whether it comes true.
Famous last-race deciders
Titles settled at the final round are some of the sport's most remembered days: 2008 in Brazil, decided on the last lap; 2010 in Abu Dhabi, where Sebastian Vettel took the title having never led the championship before that race; 2016, Nico Rosberg holding on by five points; and 2021, Max Verstappen's final-lap pass in Abu Dhabi. Every one of those seasons, with full results and standings, is on our all seasons page.
