Antonelli wins in Austin for a ninth victory but must wait for the title
Kimi Antonelli led from pole to the flag at the Circuit of the Americas, beating Charles Leclerc by 13.078 seconds. Russell's and Hamilton's results mean the championship is not decided yet, but Mexico City could settle it.
A controlled win
Kimi Antonelli did what the leader of a championship is supposed to do: he started from pole, kept the lead through the opening laps and never really let it go. He took the chequered flag in Austin 13.078 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, with Max Verstappen third for Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton was fourth and Lando Norris fifth.
The FIA's race report describes Antonelli as almost three seconds clear by lap 10. A virtual safety car for debris did little to disturb him. His only moment came at Turn 12, where he locked up after a tense encounter with Carlos Sainz but recovered quickly.
The strategy that decided it
Mercedes played the race differently from its rivals. Verstappen, Hamilton, Leclerc and Piastri all stopped early, while Antonelli's team extended his opening stint on mediums and brought him in at the end of lap 24 for hard tyres. He rejoined fourth and was soon back in front once the others had to stop again. Our race data confirms the pattern: ten of the 19 finishers made just one stop.
Verstappen's early stop on lap 14 committed Red Bull to a two-stop race, and Ferrari later added a second stop of its own. A second virtual safety car, for Valtteri Bottas's stopped Cadillac, was the last threat, but Mercedes left Antonelli out rather than gamble on fresh tyres.
Why there is no title yet
Before the weekend, six drivers were still mathematically in contention, according to Autosport. Antonelli needed George Russell to finish ninth or lower and Hamilton fifth or lower to be champion in Austin. Russell, who served a five-second penalty, finished eighth and Hamilton fourth, so the fight goes on. Autosport reports that Russell is now 123 points behind and Hamilton 124. Leclerc, Verstappen and Norris are out of the running.
By the numbers
It was Antonelli's ninth win of 2026 in the 18 races so far. Russell has three, Norris and Verstappen two each, and Hamilton and Leclerc one apiece. Five rounds and 125 points remain: Mexico City, São Paulo, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Autosport's reading of the maths is that Russell would have to win in Mexico with Antonelli no higher than tenth, and Hamilton would have to win with Antonelli scoring no points. Anything less hands Antonelli the title. The Mexico City Grand Prix starts at 21:00 Vienna time on 1 November. At 20, Antonelli would become the youngest world champion in the sport's history.
