F1's Youngest Champion Is 5 Sleeps Away | 2026 US GP Review

Five more sleeps. Kimi Antonelli wins the 2026 United States Grand Prix from pole and needs just two points in Mexico to become F1's youngest ever champion, while Russell and Hamilton are split by a single point in the fight for P2.

In this episode, Tom and Chris review the US GP at COTA: Antonelli's one-stop win, Leclerc beating Verstappen to P2, George Russell's five-second penalty, Ferrari's Friday-to-Sunday fade, McLaren level with Red Bull, Racing Bulls' clever Q3 trick, Bearman's penalty and our WTF of the weekend. Then it's predictions for the Mexico City Grand Prix: altitude, Ferrari's chances, Sergio Pérez's 300th race and a Día de los Muertos bonus call.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
1:02 US GP review: Antonelli's one-stop win
4:48 Russell's penalty
11:33 Ferrari: Friday pace & Leclerc's P2
13:09 Verstappen: the Princess and the Pea
17:46 McLaren level with Red Bull
19:57 Racing Bulls & Gasly's shrinking points
24:20 Haas, Bearman & Alonso
25:52 Driver & Move of the Day
29:52 WTF: the tractor vs the barrier
32:59 Antonelli can't find reverse
35:51 Prediction & fantasy league results
37:49 Mexico GP preview
41:33 Mexico predictions
45:28 Bonus prediction & sign-off

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Back of the Grid is a weekly Formula 1 podcast by fans, for fans, hosted by Tom King and Chris Evans.

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