F1 Fans Devise Titanium Dioxide Theory To Explain Kimi Antonelli’s Championship Form

F1 social media has produced yet another elaborate conspiracy theory, this time targeting championship leader Kimi Antonelli and his performances around the world.
The theory centres on titanium dioxide, a synthetic mineral compound used as a food additive, and whether its legal status in each race-hosting country correlates with Antonelli’s on-track results.
Fans have constructed a detailed table mapping out which countries on the F1 calendar permit titanium dioxide as a food additive and which do not.
According to the theory, Antonelli tends to perform strongly in countries where the additive is allowed and poorly in countries where it is banned.
Drawing on results from the 2025 season and the first five rounds of 2026, supporters of the theory point to what they describe as a persistent pattern.
During his 2025 rookie season, Antonelli performed well in Australia, Japan, China, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, all countries where titanium dioxide is permitted as a food additive.
His form dropped during the European portion of that season, with Spain, Austria and Belgium among the countries where the additive is banned.
One fan shared the compiled table on X and wrote: “First race of season where it’s banned.”
Another responded: “It’s just an odd coincidence that Antonelli was good last year where it’s allowed and bad where it’s not. No idea how someone noticed the correlation, but they noticed pretty early into the season.”
Titanium dioxide is an inert, synthetically produced mineral compound that serves as a colourising agent, known as E171, and is also used as a texturiser and anti-caking agent in food products.
It appears in up to 11,000 products including candies, chewing gum, coffee creamers, pastries and chocolates, making it one of the more widely used food additives globally.
The European Union banned titanium dioxide as a food additive in August 2022, while the United Kingdom continues to authorise it under retained GB Food Law.
In the United States, the FDA permits its use as a colour additive provided the quantity does not exceed one per cent by weight of the food in question.
Fans are now watching Antonelli’s performance at Monaco closely to see whether the theory continues to hold any weight heading further into the 2026 season.
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