By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Kimi Antonelli has moved to the brink of becoming the youngest Formula One champion in history following a dominant victory at the United States Grand Prix in Austin. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver converted his pole position into a commanding win, finishing 13.0 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc.
Championship standings and title outlook
The victory provides Antonelli with a massive 123-point lead over George Russell heading into next week's race in Mexico City. Lewis Hamilton remains a single point behind Russell in the standings. To secure the championship title in Mexico, the Italian driver only needs to finish in ninth place or higher, regardless of how his rivals perform.
Race highlights and results
Antonelli maintained control from the start, successfully defending his lead against Max Verstappen. Charles Leclerc secured second place for Ferrari for the second consecutive week, while Max Verstappen completed the podium in third. Lando Norris finished fifth for McLaren after utilizing a one-stop strategy.
The race results for the top ten were: Kimi Antonelli, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, Isack Hadjar, Oscar Piastri, George Russell, Liam Lawson, and Pierre Gasly. While Hamilton finished fourth and Russell placed eighth, Antonelli's victory has placed him in a near-guaranteed position to claim the crown.
