Kimi Antonelli moved closer to an inevitable Formula 1 title with a commanding United States Grand Prix victory at Austin's Circuit of the Americas, leading Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen home after a clean one-stop strategy.
The 20-year-old Mercedes driver, already on course to become F1's youngest world champion, controlled a narrow but steady three-second advantage over Verstappen early on. Red Bull gambled by bringing Verstappen in early for fresh soft tyres, but engine braking issues left the Dutchman's car 'undriveable', forcing a second pitstop and dropping him to fifth.
Antonelli stuck to the Silver Arrows' masterplan, switching from mediums to hards on lap 25 and never coming under serious threat. Leclerc, running a similar one-stop approach, closed in during the final stages but finished 13 seconds behind. Verstappen recovered to take third after a late battle with Lando Norris, while Lewis Hamilton secured fourth.
The result leaves Antonelli needing just two points to seal the championship at next weekend's Mexico Grand Prix.
Source: Autosport F1 News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing