Four drivers, nine points: Russell, Hamilton, Verstappen and Leclerc fight for second
After Austin, four drivers sit within nine points of each other behind leader Antonelli. Russell keeps just a one-point cushion after a contested penalty – and McLaren and Red Bull are level in the teams' standings.
Archive image · Photo: Liauzh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (cropped and resized)
While Kimi Antonelli closes in on the title, the fight for runner-up is wide open after the United States Grand Prix. George Russell (Mercedes) is second on 242 points, just one ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton (241). Max Verstappen (Red Bull) follows on 236 and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) on 233. Leclerc, second in Austin, also set the fastest lap of the race.
Russell's points loss came mainly on the opening lap: attacking Isack Hadjar, he left the track and then made contact with Oscar Piastri's McLaren. The stewards handed him a five-second penalty and he finished only eighth. Speaking in German, Russell argued that he had been on the inside and that a driver trying to pass around the outside takes that risk, Motorsport-Total reported. Team boss Toto Wolff said Russell simply is not clicking with the car.
The constructors' fight is tight too: behind Mercedes (607) and Ferrari (474), McLaren and Red Bull are level in third on 355 points each. According to GrandPrix.com the standings remain provisional because Audi has announced its intention to appeal a decision from the Italian Grand Prix.