US GP: Antonelli’s One-Stop Masterclass Wins Austin

Kimi Antonelli beat Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen for his ninth victory of 2026, while just nine points now separate four drivers fighting for second in the championship.

Kimi Antonelli needed only one pit stop to win the United States Grand Prix. His closest challengers made two and still couldn’t catch him.

The Mercedes driver converted pole into his ninth victory of the season, finishing 13.078 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc. Max Verstappen completed the podium, with Lewis Hamilton fourth.

The championship remained undecided, but Antonelli left Austin with another win and a 123-point lead.

One stop, nine wins

Antonelli built his race around a long opening stint on medium tires before switching to hards. While Ferrari and Red Bull pursued two-stop strategies, Mercedes committed to making one change work.

That required more than saving time in the pits. Antonelli had to maintain competitive pace as his tires aged, without giving rivals on fresher rubber a route back into the fight.

He managed it. Even a late Virtual Safety Car, triggered by Valtteri Bottas’ retirement, did not turn the closing stages into a threat to his victory.

Leclerc wins the fight behind him

Leclerc passed Verstappen late in the race to secure second, recovering two places from his starting position. Hamilton finished fourth, just 1.030 seconds behind the Red Bull.

Ferrari’s second and fourth places delivered 30 points, one more than Mercedes collected through Antonelli’s victory and George Russell’s eighth place.

That was the contrast within Mercedes’ afternoon: a commanding win for one driver and four points for the other.

Lando Norris finished fifth, followed by Isack Hadjar and Oscar Piastri. Liam Lawson and Pierre Gasly completed the points scorers behind Russell.

Four drivers. Nine points.

Antonelli’s advantage grew, but the contest behind him became much closer.

Russell remains second on 242 points. Hamilton now has 241, Verstappen 236 and Leclerc 233.

Hamilton cut his deficit to Russell from nine points to one. Verstappen reduced his gap from 17 to six, while Leclerc’s podium brought him within nine points of second place.

Austin therefore produced two very different championship stories: Antonelli moving farther ahead, and four drivers becoming tightly grouped behind him.

Eight places gained, still no points

Gabriel Bortoleto provided another result worth looking beyond the top 10 to find. After power-unit penalties left him starting 21st, he finished 13th—eight positions gained, but no points.

At the front, Antonelli had no such frustration. He left with 25 points, another victory and a race that demonstrated why tire management can matter as much as outright speed.