Racing in Austin is always a blast, but this weekend turned into something truly special for Mercedes. After a rough start on Friday, the team bounced back in a big way to take a brilliant victory in the Lone Star State.
Kimi Antonelli drove a masterclass out front, controlling the pace and taking home his ninth win of the season. With this victory, he sits comfortably on the verge of sealing the world championship.
Closing in on Championship Glory
This win puts Kimi in an incredible position as the season heads into the home stretch. Kimi needs just two more points, a ninth-place finish or better in Mexico next weekend, to officially lock up his very first Drivers' World Championship.
A Bold Strategy Call That Paid Off
The early laps set the tone for the afternoon when Red Bull and Ferrari opted to put their drivers on a two-stop strategy. Mercedes looked at the tire wear data and decided to trust a bold one-stop plan instead.
It was the right gamble. Kimi managed his tires beautifully, keeping a cool head under constant pressure to cross the finish line thirteen seconds clear of the chasing pack.
A Tougher Afternoon for George
On the other side of the garage, George Russell had to fight hard through some traffic. An early time penalty from a lap one incident didn't help his cause, pushing him down the order.
While his pace picked up nicely during his second stint, he ran into a roadblock behind Oscar Piastri's McLaren. Overtaking proved tricky, leaving George to battle it out and bring home a hard-earned eighth place.
It was a massive turnaround for the team from Friday's practice struggles, giving everyone plenty of confidence as the paddock heads south to Mexico next.
Race Results
| Pos |
Driver |
Team |
Time/Gap |
| 1 |
Kimi Antonelli |
Mercedes-AMG |
— |
| 2 |
Charles Leclerc |
Ferrari |
+13.078 |
| 3 |
Max Verstappen |
Red Bull |
+17.485 |
| 4 |
Lewis Hamilton |
Ferrari |
+18.515 |
| 5 |
Lando Norris |
McLaren |
+30.521 |
| 6 |
Isack Hadjar |
Red Bull |
+34.373 |
| 7 |
Oscar Piastri |
McLaren |
+52.674 |
| 8 |
George Russell |
Mercedes-AMG |
+54.303 |
| 9 |
Liam Lawson |
Racing Bulls |
+1:19.183 |
| 10 |
Pierre Gasly |
Alpine |
+1:27.516 |
| 11 |
Nico Hülkenberg |
Audi |
+1:34.945 |
| 12 |
Arvid Lindblad |
Racing Bulls |
1 Lap |
| 13 |
Gabriel Bortoleto |
Audi |
1 Lap |
| 14 |
Esteban Ocon |
Haas |
1 Lap |
| 15 |
Lance Stroll |
Aston Martin |
1 Lap |
| 16 |
Fernando Alonso |
Aston Martin |
1 Lap |
| 17 |
Alexander Albon |
Williams |
1 Lap |
| 18 |
Carlos Sainz |
Williams |
1 Lap |
| 19 |
Sergio Pérez |
Cadillac |
1 Lap |
| NC |
Valtteri Bottas |
Cadillac |
DNF |
| NC |
Franco Colapinto |
Alpine |
DNF |
| NC |
Oliver Bearman |
Haas |
DNF |