US Grand Prix Results 2026: Antonelli Wins in Austin
Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 United States Grand Prix from pole, with Charles Leclerc second and Max Verstappen third. Antonelli has not clinched the title yet: he leads George Russell by 123 points with five races left. He can win the championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix on November 1.
Last updated: October 27, 2026
Who won the 2026 US Grand Prix?
Antonelli (Mercedes) won at Circuit of the Americas in 1 hour, 35 minutes and 16.650 seconds, his ninth win of the season. Leclerc (Ferrari) finished 13.078 seconds behind and Verstappen (Red Bull) took third, 17.485 seconds back. Lewis Hamilton was fourth and Lando Norris fifth.
Antonelli kept the lead from pole. Verstappen fell behind Leclerc at the start but got second place back before the end of the first lap, according to the official Formula 1 race report. Russell, who started sixth, finished eighth after a five-second time penalty for gaining an advantage in contact with Oscar Piastri, which he served at his pit stop.
What were the full results?
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time / gap | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:35:16.650 | 25 |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +13.078s | 18 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +17.485s | 15 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +18.515s | 12 |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +30.521s | 10 |
| 6 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | +34.373s | 8 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +52.674s | 6 |
| 8 | George Russell | Mercedes | +54.303s | 4 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | +79.183s | 2 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +87.516s | 1 |
Source: official Formula 1 race result, 56 laps.
- Pole: Antonelli, 1:34.035. Verstappen and Hadjar completed the top three in qualifying (qualifying result).
- Fastest lap: Leclerc, 1:37.976 on lap 42 (fastest laps).
- Did not finish: Valtteri Bottas, Franco Colapinto and Oliver Bearman.
What happened before the race?
Grid penalties reshaped the back of the field. According to the official starting grid, Arvid Lindblad lost five places, Colapinto lost 10 and Gabriel Bortoleto lost 80 for using extra power unit elements. Lance Stroll started from the pit lane after his car was modified under parc fermé conditions and extra power unit parts were used (starting grid). Bortoleto recovered to finish 13th.
Our F1 penalties guide explains how grid drops are counted, and our parc fermé guide covers the lock on the cars after qualifying starts.
What were the key moments?
- Two virtual safety cars. An early, short VSC cleared debris. A later one came when Bottas stopped on track and marshals moved his Cadillac. Racing resumed with a few laps to go. Our guide to the virtual safety car explains the rules.
- Russell’s penalty. He received a five-second time penalty and finished eighth, 54.303 seconds behind the winner.
- Bearman’s race. He picked up a 10-second time penalty and retired with damage.
Source: official Formula 1 race report.
How does the championship look after Austin?
Drivers’ standings after Round 18
| Pos | Driver | Team | Points | Gap to leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 365 | – |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 242 | 123 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 241 | 124 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 236 | 129 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 233 | 132 |
Constructors’ standings
| Pos | Team | Points | Gap to leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 607 | – |
| 2 | Ferrari | 474 | 133 |
| 3 | Red Bull | 355 | 252 |
| 4 | McLaren | 355 | 252 |
Red Bull and McLaren are level on 355 points; the official table lists Red Bull third. Sources: drivers’ standings and constructors’ standings on formula1.com. Our F1 standings 2026 page has the full tables.
Can Antonelli clinch the title in Mexico City?
Not yet, but he can next weekend. Five races remain: Mexico City, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. None is a sprint weekend, so each offers at most 25 points, 125 in total. That keeps two rivals alive: Russell (242 + 125 = 367) and Hamilton (241 + 125 = 366) could still pass Antonelli’s 365. Verstappen, Leclerc and Norris can no longer catch him.
After Mexico City, four races (100 points) will remain. Antonelli becomes champion if he then leads both Russell and Hamilton by more than 100 points. In practice, any top-eight finish in Mexico City is enough, whatever Russell and Hamilton do: if either rival wins, Antonelli’s lead over them would still be at least 102 points. Below eighth, the outcome depends on what Russell and Hamilton score and on the tiebreaker (most race wins).
These are our calculations from the official standings, assuming 25 points for a win, no sprint points and no fastest-lap bonus. At 20, Antonelli would also become the youngest champion in F1 history; see our list of the youngest F1 world champions and our title scenarios for every remaining race.
When is the Mexico City Grand Prix?
The race is on Sunday, November 1, 71 laps at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, and it is not a sprint weekend. The U.S. clocks go back at 2 a.m. on November 1, so the race is on standard time while Friday and Saturday are on daylight time.
| Session | Date | Eastern | Central | Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Fri, Oct. 30 | 2:30 p.m. | 1:30 p.m. | 11:30 a.m. |
| Practice 2 | Fri, Oct. 30 | 6:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. |
| Practice 3 | Sat, Oct. 31 | 1:30 p.m. | 12:30 p.m. | 10:30 a.m. |
| Qualifying | Sat, Oct. 31 | 5:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. |
| Race | Sun, Nov. 1 | 3:00 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. | 12:00 p.m. |
Session times from the official Formula 1 event page; the U.S. conversions are ours. Times can change. See our Mexico City Grand Prix guide and how to watch F1 in the US.
FAQ
Kimi Antonelli won from pole in his Mercedes, finishing 13.078 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc. Max Verstappen was third.
Antonelli leads with 365 points, 123 ahead of teammate George Russell on 242. Lewis Hamilton is third on 241.
Not yet. He can clinch it in Mexico City: a top-eight finish is enough whatever Russell and Hamilton do, based on the official standings and 25 points for a win.
The Mexico City Grand Prix is on Sunday, November 1, at 3 p.m. ET, 2 p.m. CT and 12 p.m. PT. Qualifying is Saturday, October 31, at 5 p.m. ET.
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