Antonelli Wins US Grand Prix in Austin to Move Closer to Formula One Title

Kimi Antonelli moved a major step closer to his first Formula One world championship on Sunday, winning the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. It was the 20-year-old Italian's ninth victory of the season.

Starting from pole position, Antonelli finished the race at the Circuit of the Americas in 1:35:16.650. Charles Leclerc of Monaco came home second, 13.078 seconds back.

The title is not yet secured, but Antonelli's lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell of Great Britain has grown to 123 points with five races remaining. Russell must win the next race in Mexico City to stay in contention. If he does not, the championship will go to Antonelli, who has come to dominate the sport in his second season in F1.

Strategy proved decisive over the 56 laps. While other teams opted for two pit stops, Antonelli stayed out until Lap 25, made a single stop and did not return to the pit lane. "It was a perfect way to end the weekend; it was an incredible team effort, especially from strategy to believe in me and go for one stop," he said.

Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, a four-time champion, completed the podium 17.485 seconds behind the winner. Having won every title from 2021 to 2024, Verstappen is now mathematically out of this year's title fight and will go two years without a world championship. "Our overall pace was not good enough, and the tyres we had available were not the right ones," he said. He added that the podium may have come with a bit of luck because of the Virtual Safety Car at the end.

That Virtual Safety Car was triggered on Lap 52 when Valtteri Bottas's Cadillac stopped on the track. It remained in effect until the penultimate lap, by which point nobody was in a position to catch Antonelli.

Mercedes also extended its lead in the constructors' standings to 133 points over Ferrari, with 607 points to Ferrari's 474.

Antonelli, who won five Grands Prix in a row earlier this season, including in Miami, has now won both United States races on the calendar this year. The Las Vegas Grand Prix still awaits in November. Asked about the title, he said: "I'm aware [securing the championship] is close, but the mindset doesn't change. I want to finish the season on a high, to go into 2027 with high hopes."

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff called it the best race Antonelli has produced so far. "Getting off the start with the inferior tyre and then controlling it at all times. The race of a champion who isn't the champion yet, but exceptional," Wolff said. He added that the young driver has outperformed the car and that his driving style suits it well.

Reminded of Antonelli's other standout wins this year, including his home race at Monza from the back of the grid, as well as Monaco and Spa, Wolff conceded he sometimes struggles to recall past races. Antonelli agreed with his boss, saying Monza was special because the car was clearly the fastest, but that in terms of execution Sunday's win was probably better, given how the team built performance across the weekend.