APEX RACEWIRE Newsroom
Antonelli dominates United States Grand Prix but waits for Mexico title
Kimi Antonelli cruised to a dominant victory at the Circuit of the Americas, but must wait until Mexico City to seal the world championship.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-10-25T22:21:43.000Z - 3 min read
Kimi Antonelli delivered a controlled masterclass from pole position at the Circuit of the Americas, securing his ninth grand prix victory of the season with a commanding drive at the United States Grand Prix. While the Italian convert converted his starting advantage into an immediate lead, the coronation he seeks was pushed back by a week as his remaining title rivals kept their mathematical hopes alive.
Mercedes opted for a decisive strategy split in Texas, sending Antonelli and teammate George Russell out on medium tyres while Red Bull and Ferrari favored new softs. This tactical choice allowed the Silver Arrows to execute a smooth one-stop race compared to the two-stopper strategy run by their primary pursuers, emphasizing the car's strong race pace and superior tyre wear throughout the afternoon.
Antonelli managed his rubber with expert precision during a long opening stint, emerging ahead after the pit cycles and cruising to the checkered flag with a 16-second margin over Charles Leclerc. The performance provided a clear stamp of approval for the Mercedes upgrade package introduced two rounds prior in Malaysia, which initially created handling hurdles before the team successfully smoothed out its operating window.
Behind the untroubled leader, the race offered plenty of entertainment through a race-long scrap for second place between Leclerc and Max Verstappen. The pair traded positions and engaged in fierce wheel-to-wheel battles through the high-speed sections and heavy braking zones, with Verstappen utilizing fresh rubber in the closing stages to hustle through the field despite battling engine-braking issues.
Leclerc eventually wrestled second place back from the Red Bull driver with a brave move down the inside of Turn One in the closing phase. Verstappen held on to secure the final podium spot by a single second over a charging Lewis Hamilton, who drove his Ferrari to fourth place after executing a similar strategy to his teammate.
George Russell endured a more frustrating afternoon after starting sixth on the grid, collecting a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. The penalty dropped Russell down the order following his stop, leaving him to recover only as high as eighth place at the finish behind Oscar Piastri's McLaren in seventh.
Lando Norris nursed his tyres to claim fifth for McLaren ahead of Red Bull's Isack Hadjar, while Liam Lawson and Pierre Gasly rounded out the points-paying positions for Racing Bulls and Alpine respectively. Antonelli's victory leaves him holding a 123-point advantage over Russell and 124 points over Hamilton heading into the next round.
The championship battle now moves to Mexico City next weekend, where Antonelli needs only to finish ninth or better regardless of his rivals' results to become the youngest driver to claim the crown. Any finish ahead of Russell and Hamilton will also secure the title, making his eventual coronation all but assured after another imperious weekend of racing.