Lights-to-flag in Austin: Antonelli now just two points from the world title

Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday. The Mercedes driver started from pole, ran a one-stop strategy and, according to GrandPrix.com, finished 13.078 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Red Bull's Max Verstappen was third ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the second Ferrari, followed by Lando Norris, Isack Hadjar and Oscar Piastri. It was Antonelli's ninth win of the season. Nico Hulkenberg finished eleventh for Audi, just outside the points.

The Italian is not yet champion, however. His team-mate George Russell, the only driver still mathematically in contention, finished just eighth after a five-second penalty for an incident on the opening lap. Antonelli now leads the standings on 365 points, 123 ahead of Russell (242) and 124 ahead of Hamilton (241). According to Motorsport-Total, ninth place at the next race in Mexico City next Sunday (1 November) will be enough.

If he does it, Antonelli – at 20 years and 68 days – would become Formula 1's youngest world champion, according to t-online, taking that record from Sebastian Vettel, who won his first title aged 23 in 2010. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told ServusTV in German that Antonelli simply has to finish in Mexico – and then there will be tequila.