Kimi Antonelli wins the United States Grand Prix, title fight goes to Mexico

Kimi Antonelli has won the United States Grand Prix, 13.078 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc, with Max Verstappen third for Red Bull. The Mercedes driver is not yet world champion: Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and George Russell eighth, so the title fight goes on to Mexico next weekend.

Session times and the full weekend schedule: United States GP 2026 schedule. The complete classification: United States Grand Prix 2026 results.

Antonelli controlled the race on one stop

Antonelli converted his pole position with a strong opening lap and was never seriously threatened. While several rivals stopped twice, Mercedes ran him on a long stint on mediums and then hards to the flag. It is his ninth Grand Prix win of the season, according to formula1.com. A Virtual Safety Car in the closing laps, called when Valtteri Bottas pulled his Cadillac off the track, did not change the order at the front.

Antonelli did not get the title in Austin, but he left with the full 25 points and was visibly delighted with that.

Verstappen made the best moves of the afternoon

Verstappen got away poorly from second on the grid and found himself under pressure from both Ferraris. That gave Leclerc the chance for a fine move of his own: he got his car alongside the Red Bull in the Esses, and Verstappen had to let him go. A few corners later Verstappen took the place back, in one of the best overtakes we have seen this season.

Red Bull put him on a two-stop strategy, with soft tyres for the first two stints, and he complained about his front tyres over team radio. In the middle part of the race he produced a second highlight: with Leclerc attacking him from behind, Verstappen passed Lando Norris with a late-braking move and came out ahead of both.

The extra stop made the gap to Antonelli too big to close. In the final phase the Ferraris were quick, and with Leclerc on his gearbox and Hamilton closing in, Verstappen let Leclerc through rather than risk losing a second place to Hamilton as well. He held on to third by 1.030 seconds.

Russell’s afternoon ended in eighth

For Russell it was a colourless race. He picked up a five-second penalty, finished behind Oscar Piastri in seventh and never really attacked the McLaren. Norris faded to fifth on ageing tyres, ahead of Isack Hadjar in the second Red Bull. Liam Lawson and Pierre Gasly took the last points in ninth and tenth.

Franco Colapinto, Oliver Bearman and Bottas did not finish.

Antonelli leads by 123 points with five races to go

The official standings after Austin have Antonelli on 365 points, Russell on 242, Hamilton on 241, Verstappen on 236 and Leclerc on 233. Verstappen is now only six points off second place. All the title scenarios: F1 2026 championship permutations.

Our read: Austin was the Verstappen show, Mexico is Antonelli’s

Antonelli won the race, but Verstappen gave the crowd its moments. Two decisive passes in a car that was not quick enough to win, and a sensible decision late on to protect a podium rather than throw it away. The fight for second place in the championship is now wide open between four drivers. At the top, Antonelli did exactly what he had to do. Mexico should be a formality.

Antonelli can clinch the title in Mexico, 30 October to 1 November

After Mexico, four races and 100 points will be left. If Antonelli leaves Mexico City more than 100 points ahead of both Russell and Hamilton, he is champion. He can afford to lose up to 22 points to each of them next weekend.

Sources: formula1.com official race classification, driver standings and race report (25 October 2026); RNT Motorsports’ own observation of the TV broadcast. Featured photo: Kimi Antonelli at Monza, September 2026. Photo: Mercedes Media Centre.

Was Verstappen’s pass on Norris the move of the season, and will Antonelli settle the title in Mexico? Tell us in the comments.