Formula 1 embarks on its first triple header of the season with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, followed by races in Malaysia and Singapore over three successive weekends. The schedule shift, caused by moving the Bahrain Grand Prix to Malaysia, creates a rare run of three races in as many weeks, with two more triple headers planned to close the 2026 season. Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli arrives in Baku with an 81-point lead in the Drivers' Championship after his eighth win in 14 races, a lead that has grown in each of the last five weekends.

His closest rival, teammate George Russell, trails by 25 points after a fifth-place finish at Madrid, while Lewis Hamilton is 101 points behind following a DNF at Madrid due to brake issues. Lando Norris, the in-form McLaren driver, is 106 points off the pace despite strong recent form. Antonelli, aged 20, continues to downplay the title pressure, insisting he is "not thinking about the championship," a mindset endorsed by team boss Toto Wolff as genuine and beneficial.

The triple header presents a critical window for challengers to close the gap, but Antonelli's consistency and mental approach suggest he remains firmly in control of the title race heading into mid-October.