Kimi Antonelli wins in Austin as Mercedes star moves closer to the Formula 1 World Championship
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli delivered a commanding performance to win the 2026 United States Grand Prix, beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 13.078 seconds and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 17.485 seconds.
The victory marked Antonelli’s ninth Grand Prix win of the season and brought him closer to a historic drivers’ championship.
Antonelli started from pole position and made an excellent getaway to retain the lead into the opening corner.
Leclerc initially challenged Verstappen, but the Red Bull driver reclaimed second place during the opening lap.
A one-stop strategy proved crucial for Antonelli. While several rivals made two pit stops, the Mercedes driver managed his medium tyres before switching to the hard compound and maintaining his advantage through the closing stages.
A Virtual Safety Car late in the race briefly interrupted the action, but Antonelli remained in control and crossed the finish line more than 13 seconds ahead of Leclerc.
Ferrari secured a double top-four finish, with Hamilton narrowly missing the podium.
Verstappen completed the top three after challenging for second place, while Norris finished fifth after his podium hopes faded as his tyres deteriorated. Final race results
Pos. Driver Team Gap
1 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:35:16.650
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +13.078s
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull +17.485s
4 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +18.515s
5 Lando Norris McLaren +30.521s
6 Isack Hadjar Red Bull +34.373s
7 Oscar Piastri McLaren +52.674s
8 George Russell Mercedes +54.303s
9 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +79.183s
10 Pierre Gasly Alpine +87.516s
Key storylines
Antonelli’s championship charge: The Italian’s ninth win of the season strengthened his position at the top of the standings.
Ferrari delivers a strong result: Leclerc and Hamilton finished second and fourth, respectively.
Verstappen takes the final podium spot: The Red Bull driver finished third after losing ground to Antonelli.
Russell loses ground: A five-second penalty for gaining an advantage over Piastri contributed to his eighth-place finish.
Three retirements: Valtteri Bottas, Franco Colapinto and Oliver Bearman failed to finish
Championship implications
Antonelli left Austin with a commanding championship advantage. According to Reuters, he led Mercedes teammate George Russell by 123 points and Hamilton by 124 points, with four rounds remaining.
He did not clinch the title in Texas, but he moved within reach of becoming Formula 1’s youngest-ever world champion.
A ninth-place finish at the Mexican Grand Prix would be enough to guarantee the championship, even if Russell won that race.
What’s next
The Formula 1 season continues with the Mexico City Grand Prix on November 1, 2026.
Antonelli will have another opportunity to secure the world championship, while Ferrari and Red Bull look to challenge Mercedes for race victories.
Final verdict: Antonelli combined a strong start, disciplined tyre management and excellent race control to earn a deserved victory in Austin.
With the championship within reach, the young Mercedes driver is closing in on a historic achievement.
