Mercedes Driver Kimi Antonelli Earns Surprise Pole for the US Grand Prix as He Chases the F1 Title – WTOP News
The Mercedes driver needs a win and help from rivals to seal the title in one race, while he would become Formula 1's youngest champion at 20.
- On Sunday, October 25, 2026, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, crossing the line 13.0 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc to move closer to the world championship.
- To clinch the title in Austin, Antonelli needed teammate George Russell to finish ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton fifth or lower. Although Antonelli won, Russell finished eighth and Hamilton fourth, delaying coronation until Mexico City.
- Saturday, Antonelli secured his seventh pole of the season with a lap of 1min 34.035sec, converting it into his ninth victory on Sunday using a one-stop strategy. The win extended his lead to 123 points over Russell.
- With a 123-point advantage, the championship leader now needs only two points—a ninth-place finish—at the Mexican Grand Prix in Mexico City next weekend to secure the title. He holds a 124-point cushion over Ferrari's Hamilton.
- Antonelli remains on track to eclipse Sebastian Vettel's 2010 record as Formula One's youngest-ever champion at age 20. The battle could extend through remaining races in Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
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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.
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.
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.
Max Verstappen takes third in Austin as Kimi Antonelli closes in on F1 title
Max Verstappen finished third in the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, on Sunday. The Dutch Red Bull driver struggled with his car, which meant that he was unable to put up a real fight to the race winner, Kimi Antonelli. Verstappen started in second place after the qualifying session on Saturday. Antonelli took pole, and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari started the race behind Verstappen.
The young Mercedes driver wins the U.S. Grand Prix. However, because team-mate George Russell ranks eighth and Lewis Hamilton ranks fourth in the Ferrari, the World Cup decision is postponed.
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