Antonelli wins in Austin but title decision moves to Mexico City

Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix for Mercedes but must wait to secure his first Formula One championship after Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and George Russell eighth. His next opportunity comes in Mexico City, where ninth place would guarantee the title even if Russell wins, according to the BBC and Japan Times.²³

A title opportunity with conditions

Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix, but Hamilton's fourth place and Russell's eighth prevented him from securing the championship in Austin. The Mercedes driver led from the first corner, according to the BBC.²³

The title opportunity now moves to Mexico City. Ninth place would guarantee Antonelli the championship even if Russell wins. The BBC reports that 10th would suffice if Hamilton wins and that Antonelli will become champion regardless of his finishing position if neither rival wins. His advantage over Russell can shrink by no more than 23 points, while Hamilton can gain no more than 24 points on him.²³

In his second Formula One season, Antonelli has made substantial progress after a difficult debut campaign in 2025, according to the BBC. Oscar Piastri, Oliver Bearman and Isack Hadjar have praised that improvement. Winning the championship would make him its youngest winner and the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.²

Antonelli said he would retain the same approach for his next title opportunity, focusing on enjoying the racing and fighting for another win. Mercedes principal Toto Wolff described Austin as Antonelli's best performance so far and said he had outperformed the car. McLaren principal Andrea Stella called him the deserving championship leader.²

Mercedes tests its development direction

Austin also provided Mercedes with a test of changes that had not produced the intended results. In its pre-race reporting, the Guardian said the team had anticipated an improvement of up to three-tenths of a second per lap, but the upgrades instead left the car harder to drive.¹

Antonelli subsequently reported an improvement in Singapore. Team principal Toto Wolff said the Austin assessment would help determine next season's development direction.¹

Before Austin, the Guardian reported that Verstappen had won the previous two races as Red Bull found more performance through upgrades. Ferrari was bringing aerodynamic revisions to Austin, while McLaren planned changes across the United States, Mexico and Brazil races. Mercedes could not secure the constructors' championship in Austin, according to that report.¹

Surface concerns and calendar uncertainty

Drivers have separately questioned the effects of the Austin circuit's uneven surface. “The bumps are unacceptable,” Verstappen said, according to the Guardian. He described concerns about the condition of the bottom of his spine after checks. Lando Norris said the bumps cause drivers' heads to strike their headrests and that repeated complaints have brought limited scope for action.¹

Beyond Austin, the BBC reports uncertainty over the final races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi because of conflicts in the Middle East. Formula One is continuing preparations after receiving assurances about safety, while Imola is being prepared as a possible replacement for Abu Dhabi if conditions deteriorate. Carlos Sainz has questioned the confidence that both planned races can proceed.²