Antonelli wins in Austin, but Formula 1 title remains open
Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix ahead of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen for his ninth victory this season. The Mercedes driver built and protected his lead with a single pit stop. The drivers’ title was not decided in Austin: George Russell finished eighth and Lewis Hamilton fourth, leaving Antonelli short of the result combination he needed to clinch it at this race.
Sports··Morning
Austin win leaves title undecided
Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix in Austin, taking his ninth victory of the Formula 1 season, but did not clinch the drivers’ championship. The Mercedes driver finished 13.078 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, with Max Verstappen third, 17.485 seconds behind the winner. The FIA and Formula 1 both reported that order at the Circuit of the Americas. Antonelli needed to win while teammate George Russell finished ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton finished outside the first four to seal the title at this race. Russell came home eighth and Hamilton fourth. Austin therefore gave Antonelli a larger achievement tally and another step toward the title, while leaving the championship contest formally open.[1], [2]
One stop proves decisive
Antonelli started from pole and held the lead as Verstappen lost ground at the start. The Mercedes began on medium tyres and extended the first stint while several rivals chose two stops. Antonelli changed to the hard compound at the end of lap 24, briefly dropping behind cars on different strategies, then regained the lead as those rivals made their later stops. Formula 1’s race account describes how he managed the hard tyres to the flag. His margin remained substantial even when Valtteri Bottas stopped on track and a Virtual Safety Car slowed the field near the end. The race account records the lead, the single stop and the long run on hard tyres as parts of the victory.[1]
Late podium changes, next race ahead
The positions behind Antonelli changed in the closing laps. Verstappen had recovered from his difficult opening, but Leclerc passed him late to take second place. Hamilton also moved ahead of Lando Norris for fourth; Norris finished fifth after his tyres lost performance. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar was sixth, Oscar Piastri seventh and Russell eighth after serving a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. The result differs from Friday’s practice, when Leclerc led and Antonelli was second: practice was an early measure of pace, while Sunday’s race awarded the points and settled the Austin podium. Formula 1 listed the Mexico City Grand Prix on 30 October to 1 November as the next championship weekend.[1]
