Kimi Antonelli did everything he could in Austin. He took pole, led almost from the start, managed his tyres on a one-stop plan and crossed the line more than 13 seconds clear. The only thing he could not control was what happened behind him, and that is why the champagne for a world title stays on ice for one more week.
The 20-year-old Mercedes driver won the 2026 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday, October 25, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. It was his ninth win of the season. But with Lewis Hamilton finishing fourth and teammate George Russell eighth, the title maths did not fall his way, so the decider moves to the Mexico City Grand Prix next weekend.
Quick Facts
- Race: 2026 United States Grand Prix, 56 laps
- Where: Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
- When: Sunday, October 25, 2026
- Winner: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), from pole, in 1:35:16.650
- Podium: Leclerc (Ferrari) +13.078s, Verstappen (Red Bull) +17.485s
- Title picture: Antonelli on 365 points, 113 clear of Russell; needs 2 more points in Mexico
How Antonelli Won the US Grand Prix
This was a controlled drive rather than a dramatic one. Antonelli had built a lead of almost three seconds by lap 10, and Mercedes then stretched his first stint on medium tyres for as long as it could.
He pitted at the end of lap 24 for hard tyres and rejoined in fourth. From there he worked back past the cars that had not stopped yet, including Leclerc, and took the lead again. One small scare came at Turn 12, where he locked up after a tense moment around Carlos Sainz, but he gathered it straight away.
Two Virtual Safety Cars, one for debris and one after Valtteri Bottas stopped his Cadillac late on, did not change the order at the front. After the race, Antonelli told reporters he was “a bit concerned in the beginning” about Verstappen’s two-stop strategy, and said the car “felt very good today”.
Leclerc, Verstappen and Hamilton: The Fight Behind
The real action was in the pack. Verstappen tried to undercut everyone by pitting for soft tyres on lap 14, but he struggled with engine braking and called his Red Bull “undriveable” over the radio. He needed a second stop and slipped back before fighting forward again.
Lando Norris stayed out long on hard tyres to defend, but his rubber faded. Verstappen dived past him at Turn 1 on lap 47, and Leclerc then passed Verstappen on lap 49 to take second. Hamilton completed the late shuffle by passing Norris for fourth on lap 51, and that single move is the one that kept the title alive for another week.
Russell had a messy afternoon. He picked up a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage while defending on the opening lap, after contact with Oscar Piastri, and finished eighth.
US Grand Prix 2026 Result: Top 10
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), +13.078s
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull), +17.485s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), +18.515s
- Lando Norris (McLaren), +30.521s
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), +34.373s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren), +52.674s
- George Russell (Mercedes), +54.303s
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), +1:19.183
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine), +1:27.516
Oliver Bearman (Haas), Franco Colapinto (Alpine) and Bottas did not finish. Bearman had contact with Gasly early, was handed a 10-second penalty and later retired with damage.
Why the F1 Title Was Not Decided in Austin
Going into Sunday, Antonelli needed three things to clinch the crown at COTA: a win, Russell in ninth or lower, and Hamilton in fifth or lower. He delivered the win. Russell’s eighth place and Hamilton’s fourth meant the other two boxes stayed unticked.
The gap is now huge. According to Motorsport Week, Antonelli has 365 points, 113 ahead of Russell. Autosport reports he needs just two more points in Mexico, which means a ninth-place finish would be enough. If he does it, he becomes the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history at 20.
Why Indian F1 Fans Should Watch Mexico
F1 has a growing young fan base in India, and a lot of that comes from the Netflix and social media era where drivers like Antonelli built their following. Watching a 20-year-old win a title in only his second season would be one of the sport’s biggest moments in years.
Races in the Americas usually land late at night or early morning in India, so if you want to watch the potential title clincher live, check the official timings on the Formula 1 2026 calendar and set an alarm.
What We Don’t Know Yet
- Whether any post-race stewards’ decisions will change the classification.
- Whether Red Bull has found the cause of Verstappen’s engine braking issue and Hadjar’s throttle problem before Mexico.
- The exact points totals for Hamilton and the rest of the top five, which were not consistently reported.
Our Take
Nine wins in a season and a 113-point cushion is not luck, it is dominance. The title is all but settled, and Austin showed why: Antonelli did not need drama, he needed a clean race and Mercedes gave him the strategy to get it. Mexico should be a formality, but this sport has a way of punishing anyone who treats a race as one.
FAQs
Who won the 2026 US Grand Prix?
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes won from pole, ahead of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen.
Did Antonelli win the F1 world title in Austin?
No. Hamilton finished fourth and Russell eighth, so the title fight continues to the Mexico City Grand Prix.
What does Antonelli need in Mexico to win the championship?
According to Autosport, he needs two points, which a ninth-place finish would give him.
How old is Kimi Antonelli?
He is 20, and would become the youngest Formula 1 world champion if he seals the title.
Based on reporting by Autosport, the FIA, Yahoo Sports and Motorsport Week. Full classification on FIA.com.
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