Kimi Antonelli moved to the brink of his maiden Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship after claiming a commanding victory at the United States Grand Prix, with the Mercedes driver extending his lead at the top of the standings in Austin.
Kimi Antonelli closes in on F1 title with United States GP victory
Starting from pole position, Antonelli made a strong start to retain the lead before executing a one-stop strategy to control the 56-lap race at the Circuit of The Americas. He crossed the line 13.078 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completing the podium.
Leclerc secured second place after a late charge, while Verstappen held on for third ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. Reigning world champion Lando Norris finished fifth, with McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri seventh.
Antonelli’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell endured a difficult afternoon, finishing eighth after receiving a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage. Hamilton’s fourth-place finish, however, ensured the championship battle remained mathematically open for another round.
The 20-year-old now holds a 123-point advantage over Russell and needs just two more points to secure the title. He could become the youngest world champion in F1 history at this weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix, where a ninth-place finish would be enough regardless of his rivals’ results.
