Sports · Motorsport · 20 mins ago
Antonelli wins US Grand Prix as Red Bull and McLaren face problems
Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, with Charles Leclerc second and Max Verstappen third.
Verstappen said repeated radio failures made it hard to communicate with Red Bull’s pit crew, and teammate Isack Hadjar also had trouble hearing his engineers.
Verstappen cited other problems, including a slow pit stop and inconsistent power, as Red Bull ended a run of two straight wins.
McLaren also struggled: Oscar Piastri finished seventh and Lando Norris fifth, after both drivers described a car that was difficult to drive and get performance from.
Norris said fifth was the best result McLaren could achieve that day, while Piastri said the team was still working to solve the car’s problems.
Antonelli could clinch the 2026 title in Mexico next weekend if he finishes in the top nine; five rounds remain after the US race.
Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas from pole position.
The Mercedes driver claimed his ninth Grand Prix victory of the season and moved closer to the championship.
Antonelli can clinch the title with a top-nine finish at the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix, according to Motorsport.com.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished seventh, while Lando Norris finished fifth, and both described difficulties with the car.
Mercedes driver George Russell finished eighth after a five-second penalty and said his pace had been poor.
- Who
- Kimi Antonelli won the race for Mercedes. Oscar Piastri and George Russell were among the drivers who struggled.
- What
- Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix, while McLaren and Russell reported performance problems.
- When
- October 25, 2026.
- Where
- Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
- Why
- Antonelli won after starting from pole position. The sources do not identify one specific cause for McLaren’s difficulties or Russell’s lack of pace.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Antonelli qualified on pole position for the United States Grand Prix.
Antonelli won the 56-lap race at the Circuit of the Americas.
Russell received a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage after running off track while battling Piastri on the opening lap.
Antonelli said a top-nine finish at the Mexican Grand Prix would allow him to clinch the championship.
- Winner
- Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
- Venue
- Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
- Antonelli's wins this season
- 9
- Piastri's finish
- 7th
- Norris's finish
- 5th
- Russell's finish
- 8th; five-second penalty
15 sources
Kimi Antonelli reveals biggest mistakes of 2026 as Max Verstappen takes playful dig
Verstappen frustrated by P3 as Red Bull 'didn't really react' to strategy
Piastri unable to find answers to McLaren struggles
Toto Wolff reveals what Kimi Antonelli told him before the US Grand Prix
'The pace was rubbish' - Russell in blunt admission after Austin struggle
Kimi Antonelli WINS the US Grand Prix but is forced to wait for F1 title - as triumph in Texas puts Mercedes star on the brink of history
F1 takeaways: Antonelli dominates to win U.S. GP with title now in reach
Lando Norris slams McLaren with brutal dig after US Grand Prix thrashing
What people are saying
Well, for sure, it's been a good surprise this season so far
The pace was rubbish. That's the long and short of it.
The car is just very very difficult to extract the performance from
George just struggled so much. And I believe this is because the operational window of the car is so difficult.
Posts on X
Diving into P2! 🔼 This is how Leclerc passed Verstappen in Austin! 😮💨 #F1 #USGP
Looking back to Lap 1 ⏮️ Russell and Piastri appear to have made contact back on the first lap 😱 #F1 #USGP