Kimi On The Brink, George At A Crossroads? | US GP Review | F1 Nation Podcast

United States Grand Prix — Austin

Kimi Antonelli turned pole position into a commanding victory, controlling the race from the opening lap and bringing Mercedes’ one-stop strategy home. The win put him close to the championship, but he was not yet crowned: Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and George Russell eighth, keeping the title permutations alive for Mexico.

Key moments

• Qualifying: Antonelli claimed pole with a strong final Q3 lap. Isack Hadjar secured a surprise third-place starting position after complaining about the car earlier in the weekend.
• Opening lap: Antonelli made a clean start and held the lead. Max Verstappen’s slower start gave Charles Leclerc a chance to attack. Leclerc briefly passed Verstappen before Max reclaimed the position. The two Ferraris also had a close moment at Turn 1.
• Early race: Antonelli built a small cushion and carefully managed his medium tyres, giving him room to control his pace rather than push from the outset.
• Lap 13: Verstappen pitted, committing to a two-stop strategy. Antonelli stayed out, trusting his tyre management and extending his first stint.
• Later stages: Antonelli remained remarkably consistent across both stints, making the one-stop plan work. Leclerc’s hard-tyre pace was especially strong: after his stop, he closed an eight-second gap to Verstappen in eight laps.
• Finish: Antonelli won, Leclerc took second and Verstappen completed the podium. Hamilton finished fourth; Russell was eighth after receiving a penalty. Antonelli finished two positions short of the combination he needed to clinch the title in Austin.

Other notable performances

Hadjar’s promising qualifying was followed by a difficult race, with his frustration audible over team radio. Liam Lawson continued his steady run to ninth, while Pierre Gasly salvaged a point despite contact with Oliver Bearman.

After the race, the panel discussed Ferrari’s missed opportunity to start higher, Antonelli’s tyre management and Russell’s difficult weekend. They also noted that Red Bull moved ahead of McLaren into third in the constructors’ standings after the teams finished level on points.

Presenters: Tom Clarkson, James Hinchcliffe and Lawrence Barretto Sources cited: AWS Track Pulse; F1 TV