The October edition of Autosport, released today (17 September), highlights Kimi Antonelli’s ascent as a prime contender for the Formula 1 world title, alongside a tribute marking six decades of the legendary Can-Am series.
It is more than merely a hefty advantage in points that positions Antonelli as the favorite for the 2026 championship crown. His unwavering performance levels, coupled with a weekly eradication of his few remaining vulnerabilities, render him practically unbeatable.
Staring from 19th on the grid at Monza, Antonelli delivered an astonishing triumph that perfectly balanced calculated restraint with raw pace when it mattered most. While tactical circumstances certainly favored him, the result undoubtedly dealt a severe mental blow to George Russell.
The British racer finds himself in arguably the most challenging spot. Should Ferrari, McLaren, or Red Bull unlock an engineering breakthrough to mount an offensive—a dynamic analyzed by Jake Boxall-Legge in this edition—competitors like Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, and Max Verstappen could begin capturing victories and chipping away at the deficit, perhaps aided by their respective stablemates.
Naturally, any technical progress made by Mercedes will aid both Russell and Antonelli. To stay ahead, Russell must find a way to regularly outpace his Italian counterpart, unless he relies on an extraordinary run of bad luck for Antonelli.
Alongside Stuart Codling’s examination of Italy’s prolonged search for a grand prix champion and the obstacles ahead for Antonelli, this issue scrutinizes the duties of a backup driver in contemporary racing. Furthermore, Ronald Vording speaks with Shintaro Orihara, Honda’s chief engineer and trackside general manager, who discusses the hurdles encountered by Aston Martin’s power unit supplier during this campaign.
Kimi Antonelli behind the wheel for Mercedes
Image credit: Federico Basile
Six decades have passed since the debut of the iconic, high-horsepower Can-Am sports car series, and this month we honor a division that momentarily采 eclipsed Formula 1. Veteran journalist Pete Lyons recalls the unique magic of the era, we revisit a dominant McLaren chassis that crushed the competition, and Gary Watkins explains why the second chapter of the championship deserves greater recognition.
Turning to the future, Tom Howard interviews the fresh promoters of the World Rally Championship to uncover their long-term plans for the sport, while Marcus Simmons tracks Ash Sutton’s relentless pursuit of a fifth British Touring Car title within our reviews of the action at Donington Park and Croft.
Our extensive 25-page UK National racing segment spotlights two vastly contrasting vehicles: a high-performance rallycross machine and a classic British club-racing legend preparing for a competitive comeback at the Goodwood Revival.
To secure unparalleled racing journalism spanning everything from Grand Prix racing and the Le Mans 24 Hours to grassroots UK club competition, consider having Autosport magazine sent straight to your home monthly.
Sign up for a subscription today so you never miss out on your regular dose of racing action.
Share your thoughts with us!
Tell us what kind of content you want to experience in the future.
Participate in our survey
– From the Autosport.com Team
