Antonelli Wins in Austin, Hamilton Takes Pole as Mexico Decides

Kimi Antonelli did not just win the United States Grand Prix; he outthought the field. At the Circuit of the Americas on 25 October, the Mercedes driver converted pole into his ninth win of 2026, finishing 13.078 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, with Max Verstappen third for Red Bull, according to Al Jazeera and the official timing published after the race.

The difference was strategy. Antonelli stopped once, on lap 25, while most rivals stopped twice. A late Virtual Safety Car, triggered when Valtteri Bottas's Cadillac stopped on lap 52, changed nothing at the front. It was his second victory in the United States this season, after Miami.

The Austin top ten

• 1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes). 2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), +13.078s. 3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), +17.485s.
• 4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari). 5. Lando Norris (McLaren). 6. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull).
• 7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren). 8. George Russell (Mercedes). 9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls). 10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine).

Russell's eighth place was the bigger story for the championship. Antonelli now has 365 points, 123 more than his teammate on 242 and 124 more than Lewis Hamilton on 241. Verstappen's mathematical chance ended in Texas. In the constructors' table Mercedes leads Ferrari 607 to 474.

What Mexico City means

Qualifying on 31 October produced a twist. Hamilton took his first pole position for Ferrari, beating Russell by 0.009 seconds, with Leclerc third, according to Grande Prêmio. Antonelli starts fourth, promoted one place after a grid penalty for Verstappen.

The arithmetic is simple. If Antonelli finishes ninth or better in the race on 1 November (14:00 local time), he is champion whatever anyone else does. Even if he scores less, the title is still his unless Russell or Hamilton wins the race. At 20, he would become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history and the first Italian champion since 1953, as TimesLIVE notes.

One Grand Prix, one target: ninth place stands between a 20-year-old and history.

Mercedes could also seal the constructors' title in Mexico, though Brazil on 8 November looks more likely. Sergio Pérez starts his 300th Grand Prix at home. We will update our coverage once the result is official.