Antonelli wins in Austin with a 123-point lead: what he needs in Mexico City to clinch the title, and how Formula 1's points system works
A ninth win of the season, a 13-second margin, one pit stop against his rivals' two. The points system, the title maths and the basics of strategy in plain words – with sources, without betting advice.
On Sunday 25 October 2026, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin. The win stretched his lead over team-mate George Russell to 123 points, with 125 points still available. The article published before the race described the pre-race situation; this one explains the result and the next step. It does not predict a result.
| Fact sheet | |
|---|---|
| Race | United States Grand Prix, Austin, 25 Oct 2026, round 18 |
| Winner | Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), from pole |
| 2nd | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), +13.078 s |
| 3rd | Max Verstappen (Red Bull), +17.485 s |
| Antonelli's lead | 123 points over Russell, 124 over Hamilton |
| Still available | 125 points, five races |
| Next race | Mexico City Grand Prix, 1 November |
| Constructors | Mercedes 133 points ahead of Ferrari |
Sources: Sky Sports, 25 Oct, RacingNews365.
The race in brief
According to Sky Sports:
- Antonelli started from pole for the first time in eight races; according to RacingNews365, his qualifying lap was 1:34.035;
- he was the only one of the top five starters on medium tyres;
- he completed the race with one pit stop, while his rivals stopped twice;
- it was his ninth win of the season.
The finishing order:
| Pos | Driver | Team | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | – |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +13.078 s |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +17.485 s |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +18.515 s |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +30.521 s |
| 8 | George Russell | Mercedes | +54.303 s |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
Positions 6 and 7 were not listed in the sources opened.
Russell received a five-second penalty for leaving the track while battling Oscar Piastri on the first lap.
How the points system works
In Formula 1 the top ten finishers in a race score points:
| Pos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 25 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
A win is therefore worth 25 points. With five races left, that makes 5 × 25 = 125 points, the figure Sky Sports also gives.
What he needs in Mexico City
According to Sky Sports, Antonelli can clinch the title at the Mexico City Grand Prix on 1 November if:
- he finishes in the top nine, or
- neither Russell nor Hamilton wins the race.
This article's own check: after Mexico, four races – 100 points – remain. If Russell wins (+25) and Antonelli finishes ninth (+2), the lead becomes 123 + 2 − 25 = 100 points, equal to the points still available. In a tie, the driver with more wins ranks higher; according to the source, Antonelli would be champion in that case too.
According to RacingNews365, he would become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history. Antonelli turned 20 in August, and this is his second season in the series.
Strategy: why one pit stop matters
A pit stop costs roughly 20 seconds of race time (a general order of magnitude that varies by circuit; not a figure from the source). A driver who stops once saves that much against one who stops twice – in exchange, the tyres must be managed for longer. Antonelli started on the medium compound, which lasts longer than the soft. According to Sky Sports, the winner credited the whole team and the new upgrade package.
5 things many people don't know
- Pole again after eight races. In Austin Antonelli started from the front for the first time in eight races.
- He alone started on mediums among the top five – which made the one-stop strategy possible.
- His team-mate is his closest rival. Second-placed Russell also drives for Mercedes; he finished eighth in Austin.
- Ferrari gained one point. In the constructors' race the gap is 133 points, with 215 still available.
- Four races before the end. A title in Mexico would settle the championship four rounds before the season ends.
Summary
- Antonelli won in Austin from pole, on one stop.
- His lead is 123 points, with 125 still available.
- Mexico City, 1 November: ninth place may be enough for the title.
- He could become F1's youngest world champion.
Related reading: Before Austin: the title maths · Blog archive.
Educational content. This article is not betting advice and does not predict a result. Data Analytic Investments is not affiliated with Formula 1, the teams or the portals cited; team and brand names are used for identification only. Images labelled "AI illustration" are not photographs.
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