Kimi Antonelli tightened his grip on the Formula 1 title with his ninth win of the season at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, delivering a composed drive from pole for Mercedes.
The 20-year-old championship leader can become the youngest world champion in F1 history if he finishes ninth or better at the Mexico City Grand Prix next weekend.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished second after a strong race that included late passes on Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, while Red Bull’s Verstappen took third despite a poor start from the front row that made his afternoon more difficult. Verstappen recovered to claim his sixth consecutive podium.
Antonelli’s weekend earned a perfect 10/10 rating after he produced a standout qualifying lap and then made a one-stop strategy work while several rivals needed two stops. Leclerc was rated 9.5/10 after being fastest in both Friday practice sessions, qualifying fourth and racing to second. Verstappen received 8.5/10 for his speed and recovery.
Lewis Hamilton was rated 7.5/10 after finishing fourth, having been narrowly behind Leclerc in qualifying and then fighting back following Ferrari’s two-stop call. Norris earned 8/10 for rising from eighth to fifth, though a deleted fastest Q3 lap for track limits and McLaren’s decision to leave him on ageing tyres complicated his race.
Isack Hadjar was rated 8.5/10 after a remarkable recovery from a difficult practice with Red Bull; he qualified third and finished sixth despite throttle-mapping problems and moving aside for Verstappen.
Oscar Piastri received 6.5/10 for a subdued seventh-place weekend, while George Russell was rated 5.5/10 after admitting his Q3 laps were poor and receiving a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage in his first-lap battle with Piastri, which stewards found was Russell’s fault.
Liam Lawson earned 8/10 after Racing Bulls sacrificed a full Q3 attempt to save tyres and he converted ninth on the grid into ninth at the finish.
Pierre Gasly was also rated 8/10 for extracting most of what was available from the Alpine, recovering into the points after an early dice with Haas’ Oliver Bearman.
