Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix on Sunday. The victory put him on the edge of the Formula 1 world championship. He is now so far ahead in the points that the title is almost certain.
Antonelli is 20 years old and drives for Mercedes. He needs just two points in Mexico next weekend to be confirmed as champion. Even if his teammate George Russell or Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton wins in Mexico, Antonelli can still seal the title by finishing ninth or tenth.
The win in Austin was one of his most dominant drives of the season. Russell could only finish eighth in the same car. Russell also had a five-second penalty. Antonelli, by contrast, was in a different league. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff called it his best performance so far. Wolff said Antonelli “outperformed the car”.
Antonelli came to Austin knowing a win would give him the title if Russell finished lower than eighth and Hamilton lower than fourth. He did his part by winning. Russell finished eighth and Hamilton fourth, so the championship stays open for now.
Some drivers get nervous when they are close to their biggest goal. Antonelli did not. He said he would treat the weekend like any other, and he did. Wolff said Antonelli sat in his chair after the race with his feet up, laughing and saying he was not thinking about the championship at all. Wolff said the big points lead helps, but that calm attitude is also just part of who Antonelli is.
Mercedes brought a new car upgrade to Austin. The same package had been used in Malaysia and had made the car slower. The team split the cars in Singapore to understand it better. In Austin, both cars used the upgrade. Antonelli took the pole and dominated the race. Russell struggled. Wolff said the update is hard to operate, but Antonelli’s driving style fits it perfectly.
When Antonelli wins the title, he will be the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953. McLaren boss Andrea Stella said that is thrilling for Italy. Stella also praised Antonelli’s driving style. He said Antonelli attacks all the time and is very aggressive. But he also knows when to bring home the result. Stella called him the deserving leader of the championship.
Toto Wolff Praises Kimi Antonelli’s Flawless US GP Win as Mercedes Strategy Pays Off
Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 United States Grand Prix in Austin. He started from pole position and drove a flawless race. It was his ninth win of the season. The performance impressed his Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.
Wolff was full of praise after the race. He said, “What a boy.” He recalled being asked if Antonelli was nervous before the race. Wolff said Antonelli came into his office before getting ready. Antonelli told him, “I’m going to enjoy this ride now. It’s weird I’m not thinking about the championship at all; isn’t that funny?” Wolff said Antonelli is discovering how to handle his emotions. He called the drive exceptional from start to finish.
Mercedes chose a one-stop strategy for the race. Red Bull and Ferrari went for two stops. This meant Antonelli had to start on the medium tyre. The soft tyre runners like Max Verstappen and the Ferraris were expected to have an advantage early. But Antonelli had a great start. Verstappen struggled with his start. He ended up defending against Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton instead of attacking Antonelli.
Wolff said the medium tyre was a bit slower off the line. But the strategy worked really well. The team discussed that Verstappen could undercut them. They stayed firm with their decision. They believed the one-stop was the faster strategy. Lando Norris was on the hard tyre and looked strong. Mercedes stayed solid with their plan. Wolff said they trusted the data and did not react just because others did. He admitted it was a scary call. But he said the team stuck to the data. In the end, the race played out as they expected.
FAQs
Q. Who won the 2026 United States Grand Prix?
A. Kimi Antonelli won the race in Austin for Mercedes.
Q. How many points does Antonelli need to secure the F1 world title?
A. Antonelli needs just two points at the Mexican Grand Prix to secure the championship.
Q. How many races has Kimi Antonelli won this season?
A. Antonelli has won nine races during the 2026 season.
Q. Who was the last Italian Formula 1 world champion before Antonelli?
A. Alberto Ascari was the last Italian champion, winning the title in 1953.
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