Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix in Austin on October 25, strengthening his position in the 2026 Formula One championship with a controlled drive at the Circuit of The Americas.
The Mercedes driver completed the 56-lap race in 1:35:16.650. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished second, 13.078 seconds behind, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took third, a further 4.407 seconds back.
Starting from pole position, Antonelli maintained his advantage through the opening laps and managed to stay ahead as the race developed. Leclerc moved past Verstappen to take second place, but the Ferrari driver was unable to close the gap to the leader.
Mercedes’ one-stop strategy helped Antonelli manage his tyres while maintaining a consistent pace across the race. A brief Virtual Safety Car period interrupted proceedings, but it did not significantly threaten his lead. The team’s approach allowed Antonelli to control the race without surrendering his position at the front.
Leclerc’s second-place finish gave Ferrari a strong result, while Verstappen’s third place earned further points for Red Bull. Their battle for the remaining podium positions provided a separate contest behind Antonelli, who remained in control through to the finish.
The victory marked another milestone in Antonelli’s breakthrough season and strengthened his campaign for the drivers’ championship. With the 2026 season approaching its conclusion, the result gives Mercedes further momentum as the title battle continues. However, the championship remains undecided, leaving the Italian needing consistent performances in the remaining rounds to convert his progress into a title.
