George Russell won in Baku on 26 September and cut Kimi Antonelli's championship lead from 81 points to 66. Eight rounds remain, from Sepang this weekend to the floodlit finale in Abu Dhabi on 6 December.

The title still favours Antonelli, yet each of the last eight venues brings its own character, from Malaysian storms to a Saturday night in Las Vegas. Those differences shape race markets far more than the championship table does.

Below: the standings after Baku, the F1 calendar 2026 has left, and the F1 race markets a crypto sportsbook offers each weekend.

The Championship After Baku

Russell's third win of the season, from pole, kept the fight alive while Antonelli recovered from 16th on the grid to finish fifth.

Driver

Team

Position

Deficit to the leader

Kimi Antonelli

Mercedes

1st

Leader

George Russell

Mercedes

2nd

66 points

Lewis Hamilton

Ferrari

3rd

103 points

Lando Norris

McLaren

4th

116 points

Last verified: September 2026

Mercedes also moved 160 points clear of Ferrari in the constructors' standings. With eight Grands Prix and one sprint left, the Antonelli Russell title race is the only live contest.

F1 Final Races 2026: Eight Rounds Left

The run-in opens with a relocated race and closes with two Middle Eastern rounds.

Round

Race

Venue

Dates

16

Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

Sepang

2 to 4 October

17

Singapore Grand Prix, with sprint

Marina Bay

9 to 11 October

18

United States Grand Prix

Austin

23 to 25 October

19

Mexico City Grand Prix

Mexico City

30 October to 1 November

20

São Paulo Grand Prix

Interlagos

6 to 8 November

21

Las Vegas Grand Prix, Saturday race

Las Vegas

19 to 21 November

22

Qatar Grand Prix

Lusail

27 to 29 November

23

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Yas Marina

4 to 6 December

Formula 1 moved the Bahrain Grand Prix to Sepang after its April date was cancelled, the circuit's first race since 2017. Earlier reports flagged uncertainty over the Middle Eastern rounds, so check the official calendar close to each race.

Four Venues That Shape the Odds

Several of the circuits still to come reward a close look before you price a race.

1. Sepang

Malaysia's tropical climate brings sudden rain, and an afternoon storm can scramble a race that looked settled on the grid. Weather forecasts deserve as much weight as pace over a single lap here.

2. Singapore

Marina Bay hosts the season's final sprint, which puts eight more points on the table on Saturday. Its tight street layout makes safety cars common and passes hard, so grid position matters more than usual.

3. Las Vegas

The race takes place late on Saturday night, local time, on a long, quick street layout with cool track temperatures. Tyre warm-up often decides who can attack, which can upset form from the previous rounds.

4. Qatar and Abu Dhabi

The final two races close the season back to back. If the title remains open, strategy and team orders at Mercedes could shape results as much as raw speed.

Race Markets to Know

Race weekends support several markets besides the winner, and the same types tend to repeat across crypto sportsbooks.

• Race winner: the driver who takes the chequered flag first

• Final position: a driver to finish inside a set range, such as the podium or the points

• Finish or retire: whether a driver reaches the flag, useful at chaotic tracks such as Baku, where six cars failed to finish

• Quickest lap: the fastest single lap of the race

• Head-to-head: which of two drivers finishes higher, in the race or in qualification

• Team battle: which of two teams scores the better result

• Qualification winner: the driver who takes pole position

Head-to-heads often suit the run-in well, since they reward a view on two cars without the need to call the whole race. Our guide to Formula 1 markets covers each type in more depth.

Formula 1 on Dexsport

Dexsport lists eight Dexsport Formula 1 and motorsport market types in its sportsbook rules, the same list as above, from race winner to qualification head-to-heads. Bets start from $1, and stake limits vary by event tier.

Its prediction market board adds a season-long question on the 2026 Drivers' Championship, which settles in stablecoins after the finale. One account covers both the race-by-race markets and the title question.

Prices differ between books, so it pays to compare odds before a race. Its licence comes from Anjouan, and terms can change between races.

Conclusion

Antonelli leads Russell by 66 points after Baku, with Hamilton 103 back and eight rounds left. The run-in visits Sepang, Singapore, Austin, Mexico City, São Paulo, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, and it ends on 6 December.

Each venue shifts the odds in its own way, from Sepang's rain and Singapore's sprint to a Saturday night race in Las Vegas. Head-to-head and finish-or-retire markets often suit these weekends better than the outright winner.

Check the official calendar before each race. Check what your country permits, fix one budget for the whole run-in, and bet only once you are of legal age, since KYC or AML checks may apply. Responsible gambling matters over a long finale.

Disclaimer: The information here is provided for general purposes only and is not legal, tax, investment, or financial advice, and nothing here is a betting tip or prediction. Standings reflect the position after 26 September 2026, and calendars and market lists can change, so check official sources and current details before you bet. Sports wagers involve risk, and rules vary by country, so check the law where you live. Please play responsibly, within your means, and only if you are of legal age.

Source: Crypto Daily