AUSTIN – Whereas it wasn’t a championship simply but for Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, the USA Grand Prix represented his ninth victory in Components 1. However regardless that he completed the day with a 13-second hole over his nearest competitor, Antonelli had his eyes on one man in his rearview mirror: Max Verstappen.
Antonelli had dedicated to a one-stop technique, however the Pink Bull Racing driver pitted twice for contemporary tyres, prompting fears within the Mercedes camp {that a} problem for the lead wasa on the way in which.
Kimi Antonelli places collectively an Austin masterclass
There was a mathematical risk, albeit a slight one, that Kimi Antonelli may very well be topped World Champion in Austin, Texas. To take action, he would haven’t solely wanted to win the race, however he’d have wanted his teammate and nearest title rival George Russell to complete ninth or decrease.
Antonelli put collectively the masterclass; Russell stored his head above water for one more weekend by ending eighth. The title battle will transfer on to Mexico. For now, although, the Italian driver is taking a second to rejoice his win.
Chatting with media, together with Motorsport Week, within the post-race press convention, Antonelli was extraordinarily constructive about his outcome, calling the race, “among the finest due to how we constructed up through the weekend, and it was an ideal group effort as effectively as we speak, particularly with technique, believing within the one-stop.
“So, it was a extremely nice group effort, they usually all did a very good job as we speak.”
Max Verstappen problem fears endured
Antonelli began the US Grand Prix on medium tyres, whereas his closest opponents on the entrance of the sector began on softs, however the Italian proved he’d made the precise selection by making a clear and fast launch into Flip 1. By the tip of the primary lap, it was clear it was his race to lose.
The one concern got here within the type of technique. Antonelli and Mercedes dedicated to a one-stop race that might see him swap from medium to laborious tyres after which handle that rubber to the chequered flag. As soon as that technique grew to become clear, Antonelli’s rivals wanted to pivot in hopes of getting a shot at snatching the win.
Max Verstappen of Pink Bull Racing, the person who received the earlier two Grands Prix, was one of many drivers to pivot. He tried a two-stop technique, playing on the potential of a late-race security automobile that might have put Antonelli in a compromising place.
That security automobile by no means got here, however his rival’s technique however had Antonelli nervous.
“I used to be a bit involved to start with,” Antonelli admitted of his technique to media, “however then we had been in a position to lengthen. And really the tempo got here again with the medium, and we had been in a position to lengthen with out dropping an excessive amount of time.
“Then after doing the very first thing on the medium, we had been like, ‘oh, we’re going to go for one-stop’, and the automobile, to be honest, felt very sturdy, so I felt fairly assured to go all the way in which to the tip.
“I simply didn’t understand how a lot administration was required, but it surely was good, and the automobile felt superb as we speak.”
‘Good’ is probably an understatement. Antonelli’s double-digit hole over second-placed Charles Leclerc is his second-largest margin of victory in 2026. For his effort, he climbed to 365 factors within the World Drivers’ Championship, 113 factors forward of Russell.
READ MORE – F1 2026 United States GP – Race Outcomes
