United States GP: Antonelli dominant at COTA – title within reach

Kimi Antonelli inched closer to a historic F1 world title in Austin on Sunday with a commanding victory at the United States Grand Prix, keeping Charles Leclerc at bay while Max Verstappen fought his way back to the podium at the Circuit of the Americas.

Starting from pole, the Mercedes driver delivered a composed performance to secure his ninth Grand Prix win of the season, executing a disciplined one-stop strategy to finish 13 seconds clear of Leclerc.

Verstappen completed the podium after a tactical gamble and a frustrating battle with engine-braking problems.

• United States Grand Prix - Race results

Antonelli missed the opportunity to seal the championship in Texas, but his march towards history now looks all but unstoppable. Just two points at next weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix would make the 20-year-old Italian Formula 1’s youngest-ever world champion.

Leclerc strikes as Verstappen loses ground

Antonelli held the lead when the lights went out, but Verstappen’s sluggish getaway immediately invited trouble. Leclerc seized the opportunity, first dispatching Isack Hadjar before launching an assertive move through the Esses to demote the Red Bull driver.

Lewis Hamilton also made progress on his used soft tyres, passing Hadjar, while George Russell’s difficult afternoon began with a five-second penalty for leaving the track while defending on the opening lap.

Further back, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was instructed to surrender seventh place to the faster Lando Norris on lap eight, allowing the reigning world champion to press forward.

At the front, Antonelli maintained a narrow advantage over Verstappen, but Red Bull decided against waiting for the strategic picture to develop. Verstappen was called in on lap 14 for another set of soft tyres, committing himself to a two-stop race and temporarily handing Mercedes a decision to make.

The Silver Arrows refused to follow suit. Antonelli stayed out, while Hamilton, Leclerc and both McLarens eventually switched from their used softs to mediums.

Verstappen’s gamble backfires

The lead changed hands as the early stoppers cycled through the pits, but Antonelli remained committed to Mercedes’ plan. He made his sole stop on lap 25, swapping mediums for hard tyres and emerging with the race firmly within his control.

Verstappen briefly inherited the lead, only for his afternoon to unravel. The Dutchman complained that his Red Bull was “undriveable” as engine-braking problems compromised his pace, forcing a second stop on lap 32. He rejoined fifth, some 18 seconds behind Antonelli.

Mercedes’ strategy was now paying dividends, although the hard tyres left Antonelli facing pressure from Leclerc. Ferrari’s two drivers had yet to complete their final stops, while Verstappen needed to fight his way past Norris before he could realistically threaten the leader.

That battle became the defining contest of the closing stages. Verstappen and Norris exchanged pressure as Leclerc closed in on fresher rubber, bringing all three into contention with ten laps remaining.

On lap 47, Verstappen launched a late move down the inside at the steep Turn 1 hairpin, snatching second from Norris. Leclerc followed through, then used the back straight two laps later to overtake Verstappen and claim second place.

Antonelli, meanwhile, was already disappearing into the distance. His advantage over Leclerc had grown to 13 seconds, leaving the Ferrari driver with no realistic opportunity to challenge for victory.

Hamilton denies Norris as Russell clings on

The fight for the remaining points also delivered a late twist. Hamilton caught Norris and passed the reigning world champion on lap 51 to secure fourth place, keeping his own faint championship hopes mathematically alive until Mexico.

Hadjar finished sixth, ahead of Piastri, who held off Russell for seventh. Russell’s five-second penalty and a frustrating weekend left him with little room for error: he needed to avoid ninth place or worse to preserve his theoretical title chances, and ultimately scraped through.

Liam Lawson secured ninth, reinforcing Racing Bulls’ position in the constructors’ championship battle for fifth, while Pierre Gasly claimed the final point for Alpine.

Haas rookie Oliver Bearman was among three retirements after first-lap contact with Gasly damaged his car. Bearman received a ten-second penalty for the incident, which also triggered a brief virtual safety car period. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto subsequently retired, while Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas stopped late with engine trouble, prompting a second VSC.

For Antonelli, however, the afternoon was all about another decisive step towards the title. With nine victories already secured and just two points required in Mexico, the championship is now within touching distance.

The only question left is whether history will be made next weekend.

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