Antonelli Wins US Grand Prix to Move Closer to First F1 Title

Posted : 26 October 2026

Kimi Antonelli claimed his ninth victory of the season on Sunday, moving closer to the Formula One drivers’ championship after leading Mercedes to a convincing win at the United States Grand Prix.

The 20-year-old finished 13.078 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, while four-time world champion Max Verstappen secured third place for Red Bull in a race shaped by strategic decisions and tyre management.

Antonelli had the opportunity to become the youngest world champion in Formula One history, surpassing Sebastian Vettel, who won his first title at the age of 23 in 2010. However, the championship battle remained unresolved after Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and Mercedes teammate George Russell came home eighth.

The result means Antonelli heads into next week’s Mexican Grand Prix needing only to finish ninth to secure the two points required to clinch the title, according to the supplied report.

Speaking over team radio after the race, Antonelli praised Mercedes for its performance and the work that went into developing the team’s latest car package. He also credited the team’s strategy, particularly its decision to make a single pit stop.

Antonelli said the team deserved the result and expressed hope of securing the championship soon, while emphasising the importance of finishing the season strongly.

Leclerc was pleased with Ferrari’s pace but admitted the team had fallen short of its target of winning the race. He finished second after challenging for the lead, while Hamilton’s late charge secured fourth place.

Verstappen’s third-place finish officially ended his mathematical hopes of winning a fifth world championship. The Dutchman acknowledged that Red Bull lacked the pace and tyre performance needed to challenge for victory, although he was pleased to secure a podium finish.

McLaren’s reigning champion, Lando Norris, finished fifth after struggling with tyre wear in the closing laps. Isack Hadjar took sixth for Red Bull, followed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in seventh and Russell in eighth. Liam Lawson and Pierre Gasly completed the top 10.

Antonelli started from pole position and established an early lead, opening a gap of around two seconds by the end of the first lap. While several rivals made early pit stops, Mercedes kept him on track until lap 24 before bringing him in for his only stop.

Although Antonelli rejoined behind several competitors, he quickly overtook them to regain the lead. His effective tyre management and Mercedes’ one-stop strategy proved decisive, allowing him to control the race to the finish.

Russell’s race was more difficult. He received a five-second penalty after running off track on the opening lap and struggled to make progress through the field, eventually finishing eighth.

With his ninth victory of the season, Antonelli has strengthened his position at the top of the standings and moved within touching distance of a historic achievement. A ninth-place finish at the Mexican Grand Prix would be enough to guarantee the championship, even if Russell wins the race.

Antonelli Wins US Grand Prix to Move Closer to First F1 Title

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