AUSTIN, TEXAS | TUNGARU PRESS | October 26, 2026
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli moved closer to his first Formula 1 world championship after winning the United States Grand Prix on Sunday, but the Italian will have to wait at least another race before securing the title.
Antonelli delivered another commanding performance at the Circuit of the Americas, finishing more than 15 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen taking third place.
The victory marked Antonelli's ninth win of the 2026 season and strengthened his position at the top of the drivers' championship.
However, fourth place for Lewis Hamilton and eighth for Mercedes teammate George Russell prevented him from securing the title in Austin.
Antonelli Praises Mercedes After Dominant Victory
Speaking after the race, Antonelli praised his team for delivering a strong car and making the right strategic decisions.
“It was the result we needed,” Antonelli said.
“The whole team deserve it so much. All this time putting so much work on bringing this new package and finally seeing the result is very pleasant.”
The Italian also credited Mercedes for choosing a one-stop strategy, which allowed him to maintain control of the race while several rivals made additional pit stops.
“It was also perfect execution from strategy to call the one-stop,” he said.
“Really happy we made it stick. Today was a great team effort.”
Championship Celebration Delayed
Antonelli entered the United States Grand Prix with a mathematical chance of winning the championship.
To secure the title, he needed to win the race while Russell finished ninth or lower and Hamilton fifth or lower.
Although Antonelli fulfilled his part by taking victory, both championship rivals finished high enough to keep the title race mathematically open.
The Mercedes driver will travel to Mexico City next weekend with a commanding 123-point lead over Russell, while Hamilton sits one point further behind.
Antonelli now needs to finish ninth or higher in Mexico City to secure the championship, regardless of where his rivals finish.
Despite having to wait, the Italian remains confident.
“We are very close,” Antonelli said.
“We try to finish on a high, and hopefully we can clinch it very soon.”
Strong Start Sets Up Victory
Antonelli began the race from pole position after producing an impressive qualifying performance on Saturday.
Starting alongside Verstappen on the front row, the Mercedes driver made a clean getaway and quickly established a lead.
Behind him, Leclerc made a strong start for Ferrari, moving ahead of Verstappen before the Red Bull driver reclaimed second place.
By the end of the opening lap, Antonelli had already opened a 2.4-second advantage.
His pace allowed him to control the race while his rivals battled for positions.
Mercedes Strategy Proves Decisive
While Verstappen and several other leading drivers made early pit stops, Mercedes kept Antonelli on track longer.
The Italian started on medium tyres, allowing him to extend his opening stint before making his only pit stop.
Antonelli eventually returned to the track on fresher tyres and worked his way back into the lead as other drivers completed their pit stops.
Verstappen adopted a two-stop strategy but was unable to close the gap.
Leclerc later overtook the Red Bull driver to claim second place, finishing runner-up for the second consecutive race.
Hamilton Keeps Championship Race Alive
Hamilton played an important role in delaying Antonelli's championship celebrations.
The Ferrari driver started fifth and worked his way through the field during a race shaped by differing tyre strategies.
After his second pit stop, Hamilton needed to recover positions to prevent Antonelli from clinching the title.
He passed Isack Hadjar before moving into fourth place late in the race.
Russell also endured a difficult afternoon after receiving a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage during an incident involving McLaren's Oscar Piastri.
Despite the penalty, Russell recovered to finish eighth.
Those results ensured the championship would continue to the next round.
Norris Finishes Fifth as Verstappen Takes Third
McLaren driver Lando Norris used a one-stop strategy to finish fifth.
Verstappen, who had entered the weekend following consecutive victories in Malaysia and Singapore, completed the podium in third.
Hadjar finished sixth after losing ground during the race.
Although several drivers fought closely behind the leader, Antonelli remained firmly in control at the front.
Antonelli on the Brink of Formula 1 History
With four races remaining in the 2026 season, Antonelli is now within touching distance of his first Formula 1 world championship.
His ninth victory of the year further demonstrated the consistency that has made him the dominant driver of the season.
Mercedes will now turn its attention to the Mexican Grand Prix, where Antonelli has an opportunity to secure the title.
After another commanding victory in Austin, the question is no longer whether Antonelli can maintain his championship lead, but how soon he will turn it into his first Formula 1 world title.
Original reporting: ESPN, October 25, 2026.
Source: ESPN Formula 1 coverage of the 2026 United States Grand Prix.
Adapted and rewritten for Tungaru Press.
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