United States Grand Prix Review

Winner

Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix.

Full classification

Pos	Driver	Status
1	Kimi Antonelli	Finished
2	Charles Leclerc	Finished
3	Max Verstappen	Finished
4	Lewis Hamilton	Finished
5	Lando Norris	Finished
6	Isack Hadjar	Finished
7	Oscar Piastri	Finished
8	George Russell	Finished
9	Liam Lawson	Finished
10	Pierre Gasly	Finished
11	Nico Hülkenberg	Finished
12	Arvid Lindblad	Lapped
13	Gabriel Bortoleto	Lapped
14	Esteban Ocon	Lapped
15	Lance Stroll	Lapped
16	Fernando Alonso	Lapped
17	Alexander Albon	Lapped
18	Carlos Sainz	Lapped
19	Sergio Pérez	Lapped
20	Valtteri Bottas	Retired
21	Franco Colapinto	Retired
22	Oliver Bearman	Retired

What happened

A flawless launch from pole position and an inspired one-stop strategy carried Kimi Antonelli to a dominant victory at the United States Grand Prix, his ninth of a phenomenal 2026 season. The Mercedes driver masterfully managed his race from the front, converting his starting advantage into a comfortable 13-second win over Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Max Verstappen at the Circuit of the Americas. While the victory tightens his grip on the driver's championship, the title celebrations remain on hold until at least the next round in Mexico City.

A Race of Divergent Strategies

The strategic battle was set from the start. While most of the front-runners, including Verstappen and the Ferraris, opted for soft tyres, Antonelli began on the more durable medium compound. This decision proved to be a masterstroke from the Mercedes pit wall. Antonelli weathered the early pressure and extended his first stint to lap 24 before pitting for hard tyres. This contrasted sharply with his main rivals. Verstappen, on a two-stop strategy, pitted on laps 13 and 31, while Leclerc also stopped twice, on laps 15 and 39.

Verstappen's race was compromised from the outset with a poor start, seemingly struggling with a hybrid deployment issue that allowed Leclerc to snatch second place into the first corner. Although Verstappen reclaimed the position before the end of the first lap, Antonelli had already built a significant gap. The Red Bull driver's frustrations continued, reporting issues with engine braking and gearshifts throughout the race. According to PlanetF1, his third-place finish was more a "respectable salvage job" than a strong performance by his high standards. Leclerc, meanwhile, put on a late-race charge on fresh hard tyres, slicing past Verstappen for second place on lap 49.

Attrition in the Field

The race saw three retirements, adding to the day's drama. Oliver Bearman's afternoon ended after just 24 laps due to damage sustained in a lap-two clash with Pierre Gasly. The Haas driver was deemed responsible for the collision at Turn 13 and was handed a 10-second penalty, which became academic upon his retirement. According to the Haas F1 Team's report, Bearman felt he was not given enough space in the incident.

Franco Colapinto was the next to retire on lap 35. The Alpine driver's race, which started near the back after a grid penalty, was cut short by damage from a collision with Arvid Lindblad that was not caught by the main broadcast cameras. Citing a report from Agencia Noticias Argentinas, OneFootball noted that the collision caused significant damage to the right side of his car.

The final retirement was Valtteri Bottas, whose Cadillac came to a halt on lap 48 with a suspected power unit issue, triggering a late Virtual Safety Car. The Cadillac F1 Team confirmed the sudden technical failure, which occurred under braking for Turn 1. The VSC briefly neutralized the race but did little to threaten Antonelli's commanding lead.

Looking Ahead from Austin

While Antonelli controlled the race from the front, there were notable performances throughout the field. Lando Norris made a one-stop strategy work to finish fifth for McLaren, while Red Bull's Isack Hadjar secured a solid sixth. Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren drove a strong defensive race to hold off George Russell for seventh place. Liam Lawson and Pierre Gasly rounded out the points-paying positions.

The Circuit of the Americas once again delivered a race where strategy was paramount. For those considering a trip to the United States Grand Prix, the action proves that sightlines across the sweeping esses of Sector 1 and the heavy braking zones at Turn 1 and Turn 12 are where the critical overtakes—both on track and in the pit lane—often play out. More details on the best vantage points can be found on our circuit guide page.

With his ninth victory, Antonelli has all but secured the championship. He heads to Mexico needing just two points to become Formula 1's youngest-ever world champion. The question is no longer if, but precisely when, the Italian prodigy will officially be crowned.

2026 United States Grand Prix: Final Classification

1. Kimi Antonelli
2. Charles Leclerc
3. Max Verstappen
4. Lewis Hamilton
5. Lando Norris
6. Isack Hadjar
7. Oscar Piastri
8. George Russell
9. Liam Lawson
10. Pierre Gasly
11. Nico Hülkenberg
12. Arvid Lindblad
13. Gabriel Bortoleto
14. Esteban Ocon
15. Lance Stroll
16. Fernando Alonso
17. Alexander Albon
18. Carlos Sainz
19. Sergio Pérez
20. Valtteri Bottas (Retired)
21. Franco Colapinto (Retired)
22. Oliver Bearman (Retired)