'Not realistic' - Can Wolff's assessment of Antonelli's title chance be trusted?

Kimi Antonelli starts on pole position for Sundays race in Austin from Max Verstappen, so what are his chances of winning the championship today? Watch the United States GP live on Sky Sports F1 & Sky Sports Main Event at 8pm on Sunday, with build up from 6.30pm

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes it is "not realistic" for Kimi Antonelli to win the 2026 F1 Drivers' Championship on Sunday at the United States Grand Prix, despite the Italian starting on pole position.

Antonelli was not expected to claim top spot in qualifying but produced a superb lap in Q3 to beat Red Bull's Max Verstappen and take his first pole position since July's Belgian Grand Prix.

Should Antonelli win Sunday's race in Austin with Lewis Hamilton finishing fifth or lower and George Russell ninth or lower, he will seal the title with five rounds remaining.

Hamilton will start fifth and Russell sixth when the lights go out at the Circuit of the Americas at 8pm (build-up from 6.30pm), live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event.

Source: Sky Sports