The October issue of Autosport magazine, released on 17 September, leads with Kimi Antonelli’s championship challenge and a landmark Can-Am anniversary.
Antonelli’s position as the 2026 Formula 1 world championship favourite rests on more than just a substantial points lead over his rivals.
His consistent level of performance, with a reducing list of apparent weaknesses as each week passes, makes him seem increasingly impregnable heading into the closing rounds.
A stunning victory from 19th on the grid at Monza underlined both Antonelli’s patience and his raw speed when the moment demanded it most.
The win was aided by strategy, but its psychological impact on George Russell cannot be understated, with the Briton facing perhaps the most difficult position in the championship fight.
McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull could yet mount a technical charge, which is a scenario explored in the issue by Jake Boxall-Legge, potentially giving Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, and Max Verstappen a route back into contention.
Any Mercedes upgrade, however, would benefit both Russell and Antonelli equally, meaning Russell must start consistently outperforming his team-mate or rely on misfortune striking the Italian.
Stuart Codling’s feature examines the long wait for an Italian world champion alongside Antonelli’s historic opportunity this season.
Ronald Vording speaks with Honda’s chief engineer and trackside general manager Shintaro Orihara, who opens up about the troubles Aston Martin’s engine partner has faced throughout the campaign.
The issue also celebrates 60 years since the iconic Can-Am series for big banger sportscars first began, honouring a championship that briefly outpaced Formula 1 in terms of spectacle and raw power.
Pete Lyons, Autosport’s Can-Am reporter from the original era, outlines what made the series so special and what set it apart from every other category of motorsport at the time.
The issue recalls a McLaren that proved virtually unbeatable during the series, while Gary Watkins argues that Can-Am’s second era deserves far greater recognition than it typically receives.
Tom Howard looks ahead by speaking with the World Rally Championship’s new promoters about their vision for the future of rallying on the global stage.
Marcus Simmons charts Ash Sutton’s charge toward a fifth British Touring Car crown through detailed Donington Park and Croft debriefs covering recent championship developments.
The magazine’s 25-page National section features two contrasting machines: a rallycross supercar and a UK club racing icon preparing to return at the Goodwood Revival.