The 2026 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix race concluded on Sunday at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), Austin, where Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli secured victory with a commanding performance.
Starting from pole position, the Italian driver completed the 56-lap race in 1:35:16.650 and defeated Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 13.078 seconds. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished on the podium in third position.
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The F1 United States GP 2026 Results of this race have also given a new angle to the Drivers’ Championship battle. Antonelli secured his ninth Grand Prix victory of the season, while Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and reigning champion Lando Norris finished fifth. The race was comparatively difficult for Mercedes’ George Russell, as a five-second time penalty on the opening lap affected his finishing position.
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F1 United States GP 2026 Results: Full Race Classification
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time / Gap | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RB | +79.183s | 2 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +87.516s | 1 |
| 11 | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi | +94.945s | 0 |
| 12 | Arvid Lindblad | RB | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 13 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 14 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 15 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 16 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 17 | Alexander Albon | Williams | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 18 | Carlos Sainz Jr. | Williams | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 19 | Sergio Pérez | Cadillac | +1 Lap | 0 |
| 20 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | DNF | 0 |
| 21 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | DNF | 0 |
| 22 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | DNF | 0 |
How did Kimi Antonelli win the United States GP Race?
The foundation of Antonelli’s victory was his strong start and Mercedes’ one-stop strategy. Starting from pole position, he maintained the lead into Turn 1. Leclerc challenged Verstappen in the opening exchanges, but the Red Bull driver regained second position by the end of the lap. Antonelli meanwhile began to build his advantage.
Mercedes also made a crucial decision in race strategy. While many rivals followed a two-stop strategy, Antonelli completed a long stint on medium tires and managed to finish on hard tires after a pit stop. This approach helped him maintain track position. Despite the arrival of the Virtual Safety Car late in the race, Antonelli maintained his lead and crossed the finish line with a margin of 13.078 seconds.
This result was also significant for Mercedes, as the team made a strong turnaround in race-day performance after Friday’s comparatively difficult race. Antonelli further strengthened his position in the championship race with his ninth win.
Charles Leclerc Second, Verstappen Third
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc recorded another strong podium finish by securing second place in Austin. His late-race move took him ahead of Verstappen, earning Ferrari valuable championship points. Leclerc was 13.078 seconds behind Antonelli at the finish.
Verstappen had to settle for third place. The Red Bull driver regained second place in the opening stage of the race, but could not stop Leclerc’s challenge as the race progressed. Lewis Hamilton finished fourth, allowing both Ferrari drivers to make it to the top four.
Lando Norris finished fifth for McLaren. His podium challenge was hampered by the condition of his tyres in the late stages of the race. Oscar Piastri finished seventh, while Red Bull’s Isaac Hadjar secured sixth place.
George Russell’s Penalty Made the Race Difficult
The United States GP didn’t yield the expected results for Mercedes’ George Russell. Russell received a five-second time penalty for going off the track and gaining an advantage during a battle with Piastri on the opening lap. After the race, Mercedes admitted that the penalty and getting stuck in traffic behind Piastri affected their progress. Russell finished eighth and earned four championship points.
In the final battle for points, Liam Lawson finished ninth and Pierre Gasly tenth. This meant Racing Bulls and Alpine also scored points through one driver each in the top 10. Haas’ Oliver Biermann, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, and Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas joined the retirements. A late Virtual Safety Car phase followed Bottas’ on-track stop.
F1 Championship Battle: Has Antonelli become champion?
Even after winning the United States GP, Antonelli did not officially clinch the Drivers’ Championship. According to Reuters’ race report, after Austin, his lead over Mercedes teammate Russell was 123 points and Hamilton had 124 points. The next race in Mexico City will be the next important stage in the title battle.
Antonelli’s focus will now be on maintaining this momentum. His ninth win and the success of his one-stop strategy have brought him closer to the championship, but points and official standings from the next round will matter for final title confirmation.
Auto India Daily Verdict
Antonelli’s victory in Austin wasn’t just a story of converting pole position into win; the F1 United States GP 2026 Results also highlighted Mercedes’ effective race strategy and tyre management. Leclerc’s second place was a positive result for Ferrari, while Verstappen’s podium finish earned Red Bull valuable championship points. Russell’s penalty limited Mercedes’ overall points potential.
The biggest takeaway after the United States GP is that Antonelli is in an exceptionally strong position for the championship, but the title hasn’t been officially decided yet. All eyes will now be on Mexico City, where the title race for the 2026 season could become even clearer.
Also Read: F1 United States GP 2026 Qualifying Results: Antonelli Takes Pole Ahead of Verstappen
Raj Prajapati is a Senior Automotive Content Writer at AutoIndiaDaily. A B.Tech graduate in Computer Science and Engineering, he leverages over four years of experience covering Indian car and bike launches, EV tech, and market dynamics to break down complex automotive regulations into simple consumer guides. Specialising in Indian motor vehicle laws, IRDAI updates, and ownership costs, Raj translates technical auto policies into actionable advice for everyday drivers.