Red Bull gambled, Ferrari fought back, McLaren lost ground, and Mercedes played the long game.
2026 United States Grand Prix | October 25, 2026
At the Circuit of the Americas, 24 seconds can feel like an eternity.
That's roughly what a trip through the pit lane cost in Austin. So when Red Bull committed Max Verstappen to two stops while Mercedes planned just one for Kimi Antonelli, the strategic battle was already underway.
Would fresher tires justify the extra stop? Could Ferrari make its late-race pace count? And had McLaren underestimated the cost of staying out?
Austin gave us 56 laps to find out.
Lights Out: Kimi Takes Control
Antonelli made an excellent start from pole, keeping Verstappen behind into Turn 1 despite the Red Bull's softer tires.
Charles Leclerc immediately challenged Max for second, briefly getting ahead before Verstappen reclaimed the position.
Behind them, George Russell received a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage against Oscar Piastri. A debatable decision, and exactly the sort of incident worth examining from several camera angles.
Oliver Bearman also received a ten-second penalty during a difficult afternoon for Haas.
Meanwhile, Antonelli was quietly building his advantage. By lap 10, he was nearly three seconds clear.
Lap 14: Red Bull Makes Its Gamble
Verstappen pitted on lap 14 for another set of soft tires, committing to a soft-soft-medium strategy and an unavoidable second stop.
Hamilton, Leclerc, and the McLarens followed during the opening pit cycle.
Norris's stationary stop took 4.4 seconds.
By Formula 1 standards, practically enough time to make a cup of coffee.
Mercedes kept Antonelli out, betting that tire management and track position would outweigh the advantage of fresher rubber.
Red Bull was betting on pace. Mercedes was betting on patience.
Hadjar Understands the Assignment
As Verstappen recovered positions, he caught teammate Isack Hadjar, who was instructed to let Max through.
Hadjar complied, demonstrating a rather good understanding of the unwritten rules of being Verstappen's teammate.
It's arguably one of the toughest jobs in Formula 1: deliver results, support the team, and somehow avoid being constantly compared with Max.
Hadjar also reported throttle-response issues, while Verstappen complained about an undrivable car and radio communication problems.
Not exactly a relaxing Sunday for Red Bull.
Lap 24: Mercedes Plays the Long Game
Antonelli finally pitted on lap 24, switching from mediums to hards.
He rejoined behind several drivers, but many still had stops to complete. There was no reason to force unnecessary overtakes.
Sometimes the driver leading on the timing screen isn't the one in the strongest position.
Kimi simply needed to maintain his pace and let the strategy unfold.
Lap 32: Was the Second Stop Worth It?
Verstappen returned to the pits on lap 32 for medium tires.
Two stops completed, but at what cost?
Fresh tires only justify another stop if the additional pace compensates for the time lost in the pit lane, traffic, and overtaking.
Even Verstappen subsequently questioned Red Bull's tire choices.
Meanwhile, Antonelli reclaimed the lead from Leclerc.
Mercedes had stopped once. Red Bull had stopped twice.
And Kimi was leading.
The comparison wasn't particularly flattering for Red Bull.
Lap 40: Ferrari Finds Its Pace
Hamilton had switched to hard tires, and Leclerc followed around lap 40 with an impressive 2.2-second pit stop.
I initially questioned Ferrari's choice of hard tires with relatively few laps remaining. Would a softer compound have provided more attacking performance?
But the hard offered greater durability, and Ferrari clearly believed it would deliver the best balance.
Charles was about to prove the decision had merit.
Ten Laps Remaining: Norris Under Pressure
Norris, Verstappen, and Leclerc were running increasingly close.
Norris was defending on older tires. Max was closing. Charles was right behind.
Could Norris hold them off?
Not quite.
Verstappen passed him around lap 47, and Leclerc followed shortly afterward.
McLaren was also discussing a possible flat spot on Norris's tire, something Lando disputed, along with a potential switch to mediums if a late safety car appeared.
Mediums with only a few laps remaining?
Softs seemed the more obvious choice for a short sprint, assuming a suitable set was available.
An interesting conversation while Norris was already losing positions.
Lap 49: Charles Doesn't Hesitate
Leclerc was now right behind Verstappen.
Max lost momentum through the Turn 11–12 sequence, and Charles immediately took advantage, passing the Red Bull into Turn 12.
Beautifully executed.
That's Leclerc at his best: precise, decisive, and ready to capitalize on the smallest mistake.
Hamilton was also charging forward, eventually passing Norris for fourth.
Ferrari's afternoon was improving considerably. McLaren's, not so much.
Four Laps to Go: The Moving Chicane Returns
With only a few laps remaining, Valtteri Bottas's Cadillac stopped beside the circuit, triggering a Virtual Safety Car.
Or, as Miko described him, the "moving chicane."
The interruption raised one final strategic question: would anyone gamble on fresh tires?
Racing resumed, but Antonelli's advantage was too substantial to threaten.
The real drama was now in the championship mathematics.
The Checkered Flag: Mercedes Gets the Last Word
Antonelli crossed the line 13.078 seconds ahead of Leclerc, with Verstappen completing the podium.
Hamilton finished fourth, followed by Norris, Hadjar, Piastri, Russell, Lawson, and Gasly.
Mercedes had executed its one-stop strategy beautifully. Ferrari delivered a strong late recovery. Red Bull's two-stop gamble failed to produce the desired result, while McLaren was left with plenty to review.
But Antonelli's championship celebration would have to wait.
Hamilton's fourth-place finish and Russell's eighth kept the title mathematically alive.
Kimi had done his part. The other results simply hadn't cooperated.
Champagne? Not Quite Yet.
One amusing moment came during the podium celebrations.
Antonelli is only 20, making him old enough to win a Formula 1 Grand Prix but not old enough to drink champagne legally in the United States.
While the others celebrated traditionally, Kimi had a different beverage.
You can race at more than 200 mph and fight for a World Championship.
But champagne in Texas? Not yet.
Mexico Next. Toto Has the Tequila on Ice.
I particularly enjoyed the Sky Sports coverage on Apple TV, especially the detailed discussions of penalties, tire strategy, and questionable decisions.
Understanding why teams make certain choices is often as fascinating as the racing itself.
Following the race, Toto Wolff was asked about the possibility of Mercedes securing the Drivers' Championship in Mexico.
His response? Plenty of tequila on ice.
After Austin, Mercedes certainly has reason to be confident.
Austin settled the strategy debate. Mexico might settle the championship.
And perhaps Toto will finally have a reason to open that tequila.
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