Antonelli superb and Leclerc close to perfect - driver ratings
BBC Radio 5 Live F1 commentator Harry Benjamin rates how the drivers performed during the United States Grand Prix.
Key points
- Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix in Austin, his ninth victory of the season.
- Antonelli can become F1's youngest champion if he finishes ninth or higher in Mexico City.
- Charles Leclerc finished second and Max Verstappen third in Texas.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix in Austin, his ninth victory of the season. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver took pole and controlled the race, making a one-stop strategy work while many rivals needed two stops.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished second after late passes on Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, with Verstappen third for Red Bull. Antonelli can become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history if he finishes ninth or higher at the Mexico City Grand Prix next weekend.
How the front-runners performed
Leclerc was described as having a weekend close to perfect: he was fastest in both Friday practice sessions, qualified fourth and raced to second. Verstappen was quick all weekend and started on the front row, but a poor start made his race harder; he recovered to take a sixth consecutive podium.
Norris, Leclerc's Ferrari team-mate, was fastest in final practice and narrowly behind Leclerc in qualifying. He fought back to fourth after Ferrari chose a two-stop strategy. McLaren's decision to leave Norris on ageing tyres cost him late on, and he finished fifth.
Admitted both of his Q3 laps were poor
— George Russell
Midfield and backmarker notes
Red Bull's second driver qualified third and ran strongly before finishing sixth despite throttle mapping problems and moving aside for Verstappen. George Russell admitted both of his Q3 laps were poor and received a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage in his battle with Oscar Piastri, finishing eighth.
Lawson converted ninth on the grid into ninth at the finish for Racing Bulls. At the back, Cadillac lacked competitive pace at its home race, with one car finishing 19th and the other retiring late enough to trigger the final virtual safety car.
