Antonelli Takes 9th Win of 2026 and Needs 2 Points for F1 Title
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix from pole position and now needs just two points in Mexico to become Formula 1’s youngest-ever world champion.
Dominant Win in Austin
Kimi Antonelli was in control from start to finish at the United States Grand Prix in Austin. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver started from pole and used a one-stop strategy to take his ninth win of the 2026 season. He crossed the line 13.078 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who won the race last year, finished third. Lewis Hamilton came fourth, about one second behind Verstappen. A Virtual Safety Car late in the race slowed Hamilton down as he chased the Dutchman.
Norris Drops Back
Defending champion Lando Norris of McLaren also tried a one-stop strategy. But on lap 47 he had tyre problems and was passed by both Verstappen and Leclerc. He finished fifth.
Isack Hadjar was sixth for Red Bull, ahead of Oscar Piastri. George Russell finished eighth, with Liam Lawson ninth and Pierre Gasly tenth.
Title Celebration Has to Wait
Antonelli could not win the championship in Austin because Russell and Hamilton both finished high enough to keep their slim hopes alive. Still, the Italian now has 365 points. He leads Russell by 123 points and Hamilton by 124, with a maximum of 125 points left to win.
At next week’s Mexico City Grand Prix, Antonelli needs only two points, which means finishing ninth, to seal the title even if Russell wins the race. He would become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history and the first Italian champion in 73 years.
“Very Close” to the Title
After the race, Antonelli said the win was exactly what the team needed. He added that he knows the title is very close and the team will keep working to finish the job soon.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff called it Antonelli’s best performance so far. He said the young driver has not won the title yet, but his driving was amazing.