Antonelli wins US GP by 13.078s on Oct 25 as world title nears

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas on October 25, 2026, taking his ninth victory of the season and moving within two points of his first Formula One world title. The 20-year-old Italian finished 13.078 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. 

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completed the podium, ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton’s fourth place and eighth for Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate George Russell kept both British drivers mathematically in championship contention. 

Antonelli can seal title with ninth in Mexico

Antonelli will become Formula One’s youngest world champion if he finishes ninth or higher at the Mexico City Grand Prix on November 1, regardless of his rivals’ results. Ninth place would provide the two points needed to guarantee the title. 

Antonelli leads the official drivers’ standings with 365 points, ahead of Russell on 242 and Hamilton on 241. Five races remain, with a maximum of 125 points available to a driver, leaving Russell 123 points behind and Hamilton 124 adrift. 

Antonelli could also secure the championship without scoring in Mexico if neither Russell nor Hamilton wins. The Mexican round is followed by races in São Paulo, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. 

Antonelli makes one-stop strategy work in Austin

Antonelli converted pole position into victory with a single tyre stop, starting on medium tyres before switching to hards. Leclerc and Verstappen stopped twice, but neither could turn that strategy into a challenge for the win. 

In the official post-race press conference, Antonelli said his medium tyres recovered pace as he extended the opening stint, allowing Mercedes to commit to one stop. Antonelli said the hard compound then proved durable enough to take him to the finish.

Leclerc said Ferrari had expected Antonelli’s tyres to lose performance towards the end, but the Mercedes maintained its pace. Leclerc acknowledged that even without traffic, he did not think he would have caught the winner. 

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff called Austin Antonelli’s best race so far, praising his start and control of the afternoon. “The race of a champion who isn't the champion yet, but exceptional,” Wolff said. 

Antonelli’s season has also included victory from 19th on the grid at Monza. Antonelli said Austin stood out for the team’s strategy and execution. 

Leclerc takes second as Russell struggles for pace

Leclerc passed Verstappen at Turn 12 with seven laps remaining to secure second place. Hamilton subsequently threatened Verstappen, but a late virtual safety car helped the Red Bull driver retain third. 

Verstappen said Red Bull had relied too heavily on the softer tyres that worked at recent races. Verstappen also reported inconsistent power-unit behaviour and a slow pit stop. 

Russell finished eighth after starting sixth and receiving a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage off the track in an opening-lap battle with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

“Six good laps, 50 bad laps,” Russell told reporters after the race. Russell said he briefly matched Antonelli’s pace after switching to hard tyres, but could not overtake Piastri once he caught the McLaren. 

Reigning champion Lando Norris finished fifth on a one-stop strategy, followed by Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar and McLaren teammate Piastri. Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly took the final points in ninth and tenth.

Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas retired late in the race, triggering the virtual safety car. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Haas driver Oliver Bearman also failed to finish. 

Albon finishes 17th as Williams miss points

Thai driver Alex Albon finished 17th for Williams, with teammate Carlos Sainz 18th. Both drivers finished a lap behind the winner, according to the official race classification. 

Williams left Austin without points for a third consecutive event. Albon remains 19th in the drivers’ standings on five points, with Sainz 18th on seven.