Antonelli wins US Grand Prix but must wait for F1 title

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix on Sunday, the 18th round of the Formula 1 (F1) season, the top single-seater racing championship. Despite the victory, he did not secure the world championship, as results for his rivals were more favourable than he needed.

To clinch the title in the US, Antonelli needed his teammate George Russell to finish outside the top eight and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton to place no higher than fifth. Russell finished eighth, however, and Hamilton fourth. The title decision is therefore postponed to the next round in Mexico, to be held in a week.

How the race unfolded

Antonelli started from pole position and held the lead at the start. Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who lined up beside him, initially lost second place but quickly regained it and followed the leader. Antonelli kept first place after the pit stops.

A fierce fight for second place developed late in the race. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc proved stronger than both Verstappen and McLaren's Lando Norris. Hamilton later passed Norris as well.

Red Bull's Isack Hadjar finished sixth, followed by McLaren's Oscar Piastri. Russell was eighth, RB's Liam Lawson ninth, and Alpine's Pierre Gasly took the final points position.

Standings

Antonelli leads the drivers' standings with 365 points. Russell has 242, Hamilton 241, Verstappen 236, Leclerc 233, Norris 211 and Piastri 144.

In the constructors' championship, Mercedes have 607 points, Ferrari 474, while McLaren and Red Bull have 355 each.

Season calendar

The season was originally planned to include 24 rounds, but the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled because of the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East. The season will end in Abu Dhabi in early December. Last year Norris became world champion for the first time, and McLaren won the constructors' title for the second year running.