Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, 20, won the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, his ninth win of the season. The result moved him to the brink of his first Formula One drivers’ championship, with five races left in the Kimi Antonelli F1 title race.
According to Al Jazeera, Antonelli finished in 1:35:16.650 at the Circuit of the Americas, 13.078 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc. Al Jazeera also reports that Max Verstappen finished third, 17.485 seconds behind Antonelli, and has been mathematically eliminated from the championship. No second source in the reporting confirms Verstappen’s elimination.
According to ABC Australia, Antonelli now has 365 points. That is 123 ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell on 242 and 124 ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton on 241. Al Jazeera reports that Mercedes extended its constructors’ lead over Ferrari to 133 points, 607 to 474.
Al Jazeera reports that Antonelli pitted once, on Lap 25, in the 56-lap race, while others pitted twice. He has held the drivers’ championship lead since his Japanese Grand Prix win in round three. Earlier this season he won five Grands Prix in a row, including the Miami Grand Prix.
Toto Wolff called it the best race Antonelli has delivered so far. Antonelli said strategy and team effort were key.
The sources differ on what is needed in Mexico City. Al Jazeera says Russell must win that race to remain in contention, otherwise the title goes to Antonelli. ABC Australia says Antonelli clinches the title by finishing ninth or higher at the Mexican Grand Prix, or if neither Russell nor Hamilton wins it, and that Hamilton is also still a mathematical contender.
The Mexican Grand Prix is next week and could decide the title. The Las Vegas Grand Prix follows in November. The sources do not include responses from Russell, Hamilton or Ferrari. The Japan Times was available only as a headline and short excerpt. ABC Australia’s Monday AEDT timing also differs from the Sunday local race date in Al Jazeera, and the sources do not reconcile the two.
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This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.