Antonelli's ninth win of the season puts first F1 title within reach; Mercedes dominates

[Financial News] Andrea Kimi Antonelli of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team moved closer to becoming a world champion for the first time in his career with his ninth win of the season at the U.S. Grand Prix. He has won half of the 18 races this season, opening a 123-point gap over the runner-up in the Drivers' Championship. The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team also moved a step closer to winning both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships, leading the latter with 607 points.
The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team announced on the 26th that Antonelli had won the U.S. Grand Prix, Round 18 of the 2026 F1 World Championship, held in Austin, Texas, on the 25th (local time).
Antonelli recorded a time of 1:34.035 in qualifying the previous day, securing pole position for the race. He then completed the 56 laps in 1:35:16.650, crossing the finish line first. After qualifying on pole, he went on to win the race, achieving a pole-to-win.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished second, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen took third. Antonelli crossed the finish line 13.078 seconds ahead of Leclerc.
With this win, Antonelli moved to 365 points in the Drivers' Championship. He leads his teammate George Russell, who is second with 242 points, by 123 points. If he finishes ninth or higher at the Mexican Grand Prix, which begins on the 31st, he will clinch the first Drivers' World Championship title of his career regardless of the results in the remaining races.
Antonelli said, "I felt pressure throughout the race, but I stayed calm, focused on every lap and managed the race to take the win. I'm really happy to be able to repay everyone on the team, who work hard to help me race on track in the best possible condition, with this victory."
The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team also leads the Constructors' Championship with 607 points. It is 133 points ahead of second-place Ferrari (474 points) and has maintained its lead into the closing stages of the season.
The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team is competing this year with the Mercedes-AMG F1 W17 E Performance, developed to meet the new F1 technical regulations. It features a newly developed hybrid power unit and integrated cooling and aerodynamic designs, which improve energy efficiency and driving stability.
The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team will aim to clinch the Drivers' Championship early and hold on to the lead in the Constructors' standings at the Mexican Grand Prix, which begins on the 31st.

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