The Formula 1 championship standings have been updated following a dramatic Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with Mercedes teammates Kimi Antonelli and George Russell emerging as the biggest talking points after an action-packed race in Baku.
George Russell converted pole position into victory, securing his third win of the 2026 season after surviving intense late pressure from Max Verstappen. The Mercedes driver controlled the race from the start, but two Safety Car periods wiped out much of his advantage and set up a thrilling finish. Russell eventually crossed the line just 0.196 seconds ahead of Verstappen.
While Russell celebrated another major victory, attention also turned to championship leader Kimi Antonelli. The young Mercedes driver endured a difficult weekend after crashing during qualifying and being forced to start the race from 16th on the grid.
Antonelli responded strongly on race day, recovering 11 positions to finish fifth. His recovery earned him 10 valuable championship points and helped limit the damage to his title advantage.
Despite Russell’s victory, Antonelli remains firmly at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. The Italian now has 302 points, while Russell has moved to 236, cutting the gap between the Mercedes teammates to 66 points. Before Baku, Antonelli’s advantage stood at 81 points, meaning Russell gained 15 points on his teammate during the weekend.
Lewis Hamilton remains third in the championship with 199 points, while Lando Norris sits fourth on 186. Charles Leclerc follows closely behind on 179, with Verstappen sixth on 163 points.
The Azerbaijan race also produced a major result for Red Bull. Verstappen finished second, while Isack Hadjar completed the podium in third on his return to racing. Leclerc finished fourth ahead of Antonelli, while Hamilton crossed the line sixth for Ferrari.
Mercedes also strengthened its position in the Constructors’ Championship. The team now sits on 538 points, with Ferrari second on 378 and McLaren third on 306.
With eight rounds remaining, Antonelli still controls the championship lead, but Russell’s Baku victory has significantly reduced the margin. The Azerbaijan result therefore adds another layer of intrigue to the Mercedes title battle as the 2026 season enters its closing stages.
