Verstappen’s hot form cools off as Red Bull goes backward in frustrating US Grand Prix at COTA

Kimi Antonelli, the 20-year-old Italian driver, secured his ninth victory of the Formula One season at the United States Grand Prix held in Austin, Texas. Antonelli, who took pole position, outpaced Ferrari's Charles Leclerc by 13.078 seconds, moving closer to the championship title. Currently, Antonelli leads Mercedes teammate George Russell by 123 points, with five races remaining in the season.

Despite claiming the checkered flag, Antonelli is not yet guaranteed the championship. Mercedes teammate George Russell must win the next race in Mexico City to stay in contention; otherwise, Antonelli will automatically clinch the title. The young driver emphasized that while the championship is close, his mindset remains focused on finishing the season strongly.

Antonelli's success was attributed to his team's strategic decisions. While competitors pitted twice during the 56-lap race, Antonelli only made one stop late in the race, demonstrating the effectiveness of Mercedes' strategy. The race was notable for the deployment of a Virtual Safety Car after Valtteri Bottas' Cadillac stopped on the track in Lap 52, which did not allow any driver to catch up to Antonelli.

Max Verstappen, the four-time F1 champion for Red Bull, finished third on the podium, 17.485 seconds behind Antonelli. Verstappen acknowledged that his team's pace and tire choices were not optimal, and he expressed disappointment that he was mathematically out of contention for the 2026 title after his previous four championships from 2021-2024. The race came to a close with a Virtual Safety Car deployment, securing Antonelli's victory.