News Summary
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli revealed that he personally called for the one-stop strategy that helped Mercedes secure victory at the 2026 United States Grand Prix, praising the team’s decision to trust his assessment.
- The Italian described the Austin triumph as a particularly important result after several difficult races, saying he was delighted to return to the top of the podium.
- Antonelli now leads George Russell by 123 points and needs only a ninth-place finish at the Mexican Grand Prix to secure his first Formula 1 World Championship, although he insists his approach will remain unchanged.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has revealed that he personally requested the one-stop strategy that helped him win the 2026 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, crediting Mercedes for trusting his judgment during Sunday’s (October 25) race at Circuit of The Americas. The Italian said the victory was especially satisfying after several difficult weekends and insisted that his approach will remain unchanged as he prepares for his first opportunity to clinch the World Championship in Mexico.
The Mercedes driver converted pole position into his ninth victory of the season, defeating Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen after completing just one pit stop over the 56-lap race. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the chequered flag, Antonelli explained that he had asked the team to commit to the strategy despite uncertainty over whether one or two stops would offer the fastest route to victory.
Antonelli reveals he called Mercedes’ winning strategy in Austin
Mercedes faced a significant strategic decision during the United States Grand Prix after choosing to start Antonelli on medium tyres, while Verstappen and both Ferrari drivers began on softs.
The opening stages suggested that Red Bull and Ferrari were preparing more aggressive approaches involving two pit stops, while Mercedes attempted to extend Antonelli’s first stint and preserve the possibility of reaching the finish with only one tyre change.
Antonelli made a strong start from pole and established an early advantage over Verstappen, who briefly lost second place to Leclerc before recovering the position. With the leading rivals stopping earlier, Mercedes had an opportunity to exploit the durability of the medium compound.
However, the Italian acknowledged that the decision was not entirely straightforward because the competitive difference between one-stop and two-stop strategies remained uncertain.
“It was a perfect way to end the weekend. It was an incredible team effort, especially from strategy, to believe in me and go for one stop,” Antonelli told Sky Sports F1.
“I called the one stop because I wasn’t sure whether one or two stops was the quickest.”
The statement provides an important insight into the communication between Antonelli and the Mercedes pit wall. Rather than simply following a predetermined race plan, the driver indicated that he had actively supported the decision to complete the race with a single tyre change.
The team eventually brought Antonelli into the pits on lap 25, replacing his medium tyres with hards for the final 31 laps.
That choice proved decisive as Verstappen and Ferrari followed more aggressive two-stop strategies. Mercedes maintained strong pace throughout the second stint, allowing Antonelli to control the race without needing another pit stop.
The approach also justified the assessment made before the Grand Prix that tyre degradation and strategic flexibility could determine the battle between Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari.
Although the pole-sitter had demonstrated exceptional single-lap speed in qualifying, the race required a different set of skills: preserving tyre performance, maintaining a consistent rhythm and adapting to the strategies being used by the teams behind.
Antonelli delivered on all three fronts, securing another victory and demonstrating the growing maturity that has characterised his second Formula 1 season.
Mercedes’ confidence pays off as Verstappen and Ferrari struggle to respond
The contrast between Mercedes’ approach and those adopted by its rivals became increasingly clear during the race.
Red Bull brought Verstappen in for his first pit stop on lap 14, while Ferrari followed with Hamilton on lap 15 and Leclerc one lap later. The early stops committed all three drivers to longer-term strategic compromises, particularly as Antonelli continued circulating at a competitive pace.
The Mercedes driver eventually completed his stop on lap 25 and emerged with enough performance to defend his position against the different strategies unfolding behind.
Verstappen, meanwhile, encountered technical difficulties during the race and lost additional time during his second pit stop on lap 32.
The Dutchman complained about gearbox behaviour and engine-braking issues, while a slower-than-ideal stop further compromised his chances of challenging for victory.
Leclerc ultimately overtook Verstappen during the closing stages to finish second, with the Red Bull driver settling for third.
Hamilton completed Ferrari’s strong recovery by passing Lando Norris for fourth, preventing the Italian manufacturer from leaving Austin without a significant result after its disappointing qualifying performance.
Despite those developments, Antonelli remained beyond the reach of his closest rivals, demonstrating that Mercedes had selected the most effective strategy for the circumstances.
The outcome was particularly satisfying because the team’s race preparation had not been straightforward.
Mercedes struggled with car balance and tyre overheating during practice, while Ferrari led all three sessions before qualifying. Antonelli then produced a surprise pole position ahead of Verstappen, giving the team an opportunity to control the race from the front.
The victory therefore completed an impressive turnaround across the weekend, with Mercedes converting improvements in qualifying into an equally effective race performance.
Antonelli celebrates important victory after difficult F1 races
Antonelli also emphasised the emotional significance of returning to the top step of the podium after a challenging period in the championship.
Although the Italian arrived in Austin with a commanding lead in the Drivers’ standings, Mercedes had faced increasingly strong opposition from Red Bull and Ferrari during the preceding rounds.
Verstappen had won in Malaysia and Singapore, while Ferrari showed encouraging performance throughout the Austin weekend. The narrowing competitive margins placed additional pressure on Antonelli to deliver a strong result after securing pole.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, the Mercedes driver described the victory as an important achievement for the entire team.
“Today was a really important victory for me, for the team, especially after having a couple of difficult races,” he said.
“To be back on top feels very good.”
The result reinforced Antonelli’s position as the dominant driver of the 2026 championship and brought his season victory total to nine.
However, the United States Grand Prix did not deliver the early championship celebration he had hoped for.
Mercedes teammate George Russell finished eighth, while Ferrari’s Hamilton claimed fourth. Both results were sufficient to keep the Drivers’ Championship mathematically open, despite Antonelli collecting the maximum 25 points available for victory.
The Italian had entered Austin knowing that he needed Russell to finish ninth or lower and Hamilton fifth or lower to secure the title.
Russell’s eighth place proved particularly important because it earned the British driver four points, leaving him 123 behind Antonelli rather than the decisive 125-point deficit that would have ended the championship.
Hamilton also remained in contention by finishing fourth, reducing his deficit to 124 points.
Antonelli targets Mexican GP title but insists mindset will not change
With the championship still undecided, Antonelli now turns his attention to Mexico City, where the mathematical requirements for securing the title are considerably simpler.
The Mercedes driver leads the standings with 365 points, compared with Russell’s 242 and Hamilton’s 241. With five Grands Prix remaining, the maximum available is 125 points, but that figure will fall to 100 after the Mexican Grand Prix.
Consequently, Antonelli needs only a ninth-place finish at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to become champion, regardless of where his closest rivals finish.
Asked by Sky Sports F1’s Craig Slater whether he hoped to complete the championship in style in Mexico, Antonelli acknowledged the opportunity but rejected the suggestion that he needed to change his approach.
“Yeah, the best way, the perfect way would be to finish off in style and then enjoy just the rest of the season,” he said.
“I’m very well aware that it’s very close, but the mindset doesn’t change.”
The Italian also explained that his objective extends beyond securing the championship as early as possible.
“I want to finish the season on a high in order to then go with high hopes into 2027,” Antonelli continued.
“But yeah, we’ll first focus and worry about finishing this well and then we’ll see.”
The comments underline Antonelli’s intention to maintain his competitive approach rather than simply calculate the minimum result required to become champion.
His position is nevertheless exceptionally favourable. Having won nine races already, Antonelli holds an advantage on countback that Russell and Hamilton cannot overturn even by winning every remaining Grand Prix.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO’s complete mathematical analysis of the Mexican Grand Prix explains, finishing ninth would be enough to guarantee the title even if Russell wins the race.
The championship could also be decided without Antonelli scoring any points, provided neither Russell nor Hamilton takes victory in Mexico.
F1 2026 championship — Title contenders after United States GP
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | K. ANTONELLI | Mercedes | 365 | — |
| 2 | G. RUSSELL | Mercedes | 242 | -123 |
| 3 | L. HAMILTON | Ferrari | 241 | -124 |
Only the three remaining mathematical title contenders are shown. The complete Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship standings are available separately.
Mexico offers Antonelli the chance to make F1 history
Antonelli’s championship opportunity in Mexico carries historical significance because the Italian could become the youngest World Champion in Formula 1 history.
The Mercedes driver turned 20 on August 25 and will be 20 years, 2 months and 7 days old when the Mexican Grand Prix takes place on November 1.
The current record belongs to Sebastian Vettel, who secured his first World Championship with Red Bull in 2010 at the age of 23 years and 134 days.
Antonelli would therefore establish a new benchmark more than three years younger than the German was when he claimed the first of his four consecutive titles.
The achievement would also represent a remarkable milestone for Mercedes, which promoted the Italian directly to Formula 1 in 2025 as Hamilton’s replacement.
After an initial season of adaptation, Antonelli has developed into the team’s leading championship contender, combining outright pace with the consistency required to build a substantial advantage over Russell.
His performance in Austin offered another demonstration of that progression. The Italian secured pole despite Mercedes’ initial difficulties, made the correct call on strategy and maintained his advantage throughout the race.
The victory also showed how his relationship with the Mercedes pit wall has developed, with the team willing to trust his assessment of the tyres and adapt its strategy accordingly.
With the championship within reach, Antonelli has made clear that his immediate priority remains delivering another strong performance rather than focusing exclusively on the celebrations that could follow.
The Mexican Grand Prix takes place on Sunday, November 1, at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, followed by the São Paulo, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following the aftermath of the United States Grand Prix and the build-up to the Mexican Grand Prix, with breaking news, championship analysis and full coverage in its Formula 1 section.
FAQ
Did Andrea Kimi Antonelli choose his winning strategy at the United States Grand Prix?
Yes. Antonelli told Sky Sports F1 that he personally called for Mercedes to use a one-stop strategy, explaining that he was uncertain whether one or two stops would be quicker. The team supported the decision, and he went on to win after switching from medium to hard tyres.
What did Antonelli say about winning the Formula 1 title in Mexico?
Antonelli said the ideal outcome would be to secure the championship in style, but insisted that his mindset would not change. He also emphasised his ambition to finish the 2026 season strongly before preparing for 2027.
What does Antonelli need to win the 2026 F1 World Championship in Mexico?
Antonelli needs to finish ninth or higher at the Mexican Grand Prix to become champion regardless of the results achieved by George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. He could also clinch the title without scoring, depending on the outcome of the race.
