Kimi Antonelli secured a dominant victory at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, finishing 16 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver now leads George Russell by 123 points and is on the verge of clinching his first world title. Antonelli will be crowned champion at the Mexico City Grand Prix next weekend unless he loses more than 23 points to Russell or 24 to Lewis Hamilton.
A ninth-place finish would suffice even if Russell wins, while a 10th place would be enough if Hamilton takes victory. If neither Russell nor Hamilton wins, Antonelli becomes champion regardless of his finishing position. The race saw Antonelli control proceedings from the first lap, benefiting from a superior tyre strategy.
Mercedes opted for medium tyres at the start, enabling a one-stop race, while rivals required two stops. The victory also validated the team's recent upgrade package, which had initially underperformed before being refined. Antonelli described the win as 'the result we needed' and expressed confidence in sealing the title soon.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing