Antonelli Wins Austin Grand Prix to Extend Title Lead
A one-stop strategy carried the 20-year-old to victory, widening his championship advantage over teammate George Russell to 123 points with five races remaining.
By Anthony Shevchenko ·
Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix on Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, to take his ninth victory of the 2026 season. The 20-year-old Italian converted a pole position start into a win with a final time of 1:35:16.650. He finished 13.078 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc from Monaco.
The result increases Antonelli's lead in the drivers' championship over his Mercedes teammate, George Russell, to 123 points. With five races left on the schedule, Russell faces a specific requirement to keep his title hopes alive. He must win the next race in Mexico City. If he fails to do so, the championship will officially belong to Antonelli.
Mercedes employed a distinct race strategy that separated the team from the rest of the field. While most competitors made two pit stops during the 56-lap event, Antonelli waited until lap 25 for his only visit to the pit lane. He did not stop again for the remainder of the race.
"It was a perfect way to end the weekend; it was an incredible team effort, especially from strategy to believe in me and go for one stop," Antonelli said after crossing the finish line. He added that while he is aware the title is close, his mindset remains focused on finishing the season strongly to enter 2027 with high hopes.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing took third place, finishing 17.485 seconds behind Antonelli. The four-time champion has been mathematically eliminated from this year's title race. He noted that his team's pace was not sufficient and that the available tires were not the correct choice for the conditions. A Virtual Safety Car was deployed on lap 52 when Valtteri Bottas's Cadillac stopped on the track. The caution lasted until the penultimate lap, ensuring no driver could catch Antonelli.
The win also extends Mercedes' lead in the constructors' championship. The German team now holds 607 points, which is 133 points ahead of Ferrari's 474. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff called the performance Antonelli's best of the year. "The race of a champion who isn't the champion yet, but exceptional," Wolff said. He noted that Antonelli outperformed the car and that his driving style meshes perfectly with the machine.
Antonelli agreed with his team boss, describing the weekend as a collective effort. He contrasted this win with his home victory at Monza, where he started from the back of the grid. While he considers Monza a special memory, he believes the execution in Austin was superior due to how the team built performance throughout the weekend.
