Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli heads into this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a substantial lead in the Formula One world championship, while four-time champion Max Verstappen arrives in Baku still searching for his first Grand Prix victory of the 2026 season.
Antonelli leads Mercedes teammate George Russell by 81 points after 14 rounds of the championship. The 20-year-old Italian has won eight races this season and is seeking to extend his advantage when the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the 15th round of the championship, takes place on Saturday.
Verstappen, meanwhile, has finished on the podium six times this season, including four podiums in his last five races.
His most recent result was second place in Madrid, and the Red Bull driver believes the Baku street circuit could provide an opportunity to finally return to the top step of the podium.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be held on Saturday rather than Sunday because Azerbaijan observes Remembrance Day on Sunday.
Practice is scheduled for Thursday, followed by qualifying on Friday before the main race on Saturday.
Antonelli has established himself as the leading driver in the championship during a season in which Mercedes has been the dominant team.
Mercedes has won 10 of the 14 races so far, while Antonelli alone has collected eight victories.
Russell has won twice, while McLaren’s reigning champion Lando Norris has also taken two victories.
The Italian’s recent form has been particularly impressive. He won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza from the back of the grid before following it with victory in Spain.
Those results have strengthened his position at the top of the championship standings.Russell sits second, 81 points behind his teammate, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton is third, 101 points behind Antonelli. Norris, who won the 2025 championship, is another five points behind Hamilton.
Verstappen’s challenge is complicated by the fact that Red Bull has not matched Mercedes’ consistency this season.
Nevertheless, the Dutchman has a strong record in Baku. He has won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix twice, in 2022 and 2025, and is one of only two drivers to have won at the circuit more than once. Sergio Perez is the other two-time winner.
The Baku circuit is regarded as one of Formula One’s most unpredictable venues. The 6.003-kilometre street circuit combines long, fast sections with a narrow section through Baku’s old town and has frequently produced safety-car periods and unexpected results. Only three of the nine Azerbaijan races held so far have been won from pole position.
The race will also mark the 10th edition of Formula One racing on the Baku street circuit. The venue first appeared on the calendar in 2016 as the European Grand Prix before becoming the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2017.
Norris will also be looking to recover after losing a potential victory in Madrid. The McLaren driver had led from pole position before a virtual safety-car situation disrupted his advantage, leaving him to finish third.
The Azerbaijan race begins a demanding sequence of three races on successive weekends, with Malaysia and Singapore following.
For Antonelli, the weekend presents another opportunity to increase his championship advantage, while Verstappen faces the immediate challenge of ending his winless run in 2026.
With the championship entering its later stages, the battle in Baku will provide another test of whether Mercedes can maintain its advantage or whether Red Bull, McLaren or Ferrari can interrupt its dominance.
