Antonelli wins in US but has to wait to secure title

Kimi Antonelli has won nine of the 18 races so far this season

Kimi Antonelli just missed out on clinching his first world title in a dominant victory in the United States Grand Prix.

The 20-year-old Italian leads Mercedes team-mate George Russell by 123 points after coming home ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Antonelli will be crowned champion in Mexico City next weekend as long he does not lose more than 23 points to Russell and 24 to Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

That means a ninth place would be enough to become champion even if Russell wins the race, and a 10th would be enough if Hamilton is victorious.

If Russell or Hamilton do not win, Antonelli will be champion next Sunday no matter where he finishes.

Antonelli stamped his authority on this race in the same way as he has on the season, and was out of touch even by the first corner as his rivals all battled behind him.

• Antonelli’s sublime victory, his first since the Spanish Grand Prix last month

• A race-long squabble between Leclerc and Verstappen for second place

• Little else, frankly

Antonelli’s sublime victory, his first since the Spanish Grand Prix last month

A race-long squabble between Leclerc and Verstappen for second place

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