Mercedes Driver Kimi Antonelli Earns Surprise Pole for the US Grand Prix as He Chases the F1 Title – WTOP News
Antonelli’s 102-point lead gives him a chance to become Formula One’s youngest champion if key rivals finish outside the needed positions.
- On Sunday, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, claiming his ninth victory of the season from pole position to move within reach of the 2026 F1 championship.
- Antonelli arrived in Austin holding a 102-point lead over teammate George Russell and needed to win while Russell finished ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton finished fifth or lower to clinch the title outright.
- Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton crossed the line fourth while Russell finished eighth after receiving a five-second penalty for an opening-lap collision with McLaren's Oscar Piastri, leaving Antonelli 123 points clear.
- Antonelli now requires only a ninth-place finish at next weekend's Mexican Grand Prix in Mexico City to mathematically secure the championship, with Brazil offering a backup opportunity seven days later.
- At 20 years old, Antonelli is poised to become Formula One's youngest ever champion, eclipsing Sebastian Vettel's 2010 record by nearly three years and ending Italy's 73-year title drought since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
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Kimi Antonelli wins dominant U.S. Grand Prix and tightens his grip on historic F1 title chase
Kimi Antonelli stormed to his ninth win of the season on Sunday at the United States Grand Prix and further tightened his grip on a Formula 1 season championship that he could win at the next race in Mexico City.
It was a world champion's performance, but not yet a title. Kimi Antonelli wins in Austin, also his teammate prevents the coronation. But next Sunday it should be so far.
Kimi Antonelli wins dominant US Grand Prix, tightens grip on historic F1 title chase
AUSTIN, Texas — Kimi Antonelli stormed to his ninth win of the season on Sunday at the United States Grand Prix and further tightened his grip on a Formula 1 season championship that he could win at the next race in Mexico City. The Mercedes driver started from pole position at the Circuit of the Americas with an outside chance of winning the season championship outright. A victory combined with poor results from his closest rivals would have do…
The Italian driver is the winner of the Formula 1 US Grand Prix in Austin, winning ahead of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen.
The results of Antonelli's main persecutors prevented him from crowning himself mathematically in the United States, but the title could come in Mexico.
Youngster Kimi Antonelli has secured the next convincing victory in Austin. Although it was not enough to win the World Cup prematurely, the party is now well planned for Mexico.
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