Antonelli's 123-point lead after Austin win
The Italian took his ninth race of the year at the Circuit of the Americas, leaving teammate George Russell needing a win in Mexico to stay in the title fight.
By Fatou Kim ·
Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday.
The 20-year-old Italian started from pole position and finished the 56-lap race in 1:35:16.650. Charles Leclerc of Monaco finished second, 13.078 seconds behind Antonelli. Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing took third place, 17.485 seconds back.
The victory marks Antonelli's ninth win of the season. His lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell has grown to 123 points with five races remaining on the calendar. Russell must win the next race in Mexico City to keep his title hopes alive. If Russell fails to win, the championship will go to Antonelli.
Strategy played a key role in the result. Most teams used two pit stops, but Antonelli stayed out until Lap 25 for a single stop and did not return to the pit lane. The driver credited the team for trusting that approach. "It was an incredible team effort, especially from strategy to believe in me and go for one stop," Antonelli said.
A Virtual Safety Car appeared on Lap 52 after Valtteri Bottas's Cadillac stopped on track. The safety car remained active until the penultimate lap. By that point, no driver could catch Antonelli. Verstappen, who won every title from 2021 to 2024, is now mathematically out of the race. He noted that his team's pace and tire choices were not sufficient for the win.
Mercedes extended its lead in the constructors' standings to 133 points over Ferrari. Mercedes has 607 points, while Ferrari has 474. Antonelli has won both United States races on this year's schedule, including the Las Vegas Grand Prix later in November.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff called the race the best Antonelli has produced so far. Wolff said Antonelli controlled the race despite starting on the inferior tire. The team principal described the performance as that of a champion who is not yet the champion. Antonelli agreed that the Monza win from the back of the grid was special, but said the execution in Austin was likely better due to the team's performance across the weekend.
