Antonelli superb and Leclerc close to perfect – driver ratings
Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix in Austin, with Charles Leclerc second and Max Verstappen third. Antonelli’s ninth win of the season puts him within reach of becoming Formula 1’s youngest world champion: he will secure the title if he finishes ninth or higher at next weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix.
The ratings praised Antonelli’s pole lap and race management, while Leclerc was described as close to perfect after strong practice, qualifying and late passes. Verstappen recovered from a poor start to take another podium, and other drivers’ results reflected strategy, penalties and car problems. The supplied article text ends part-way through the ratings, so it does not include every driver’s assessment.
In short
- Antonelli won his ninth race of the season in Austin.
- He can clinch the title with ninth place or better in Mexico.
- Leclerc finished second after a strong weekend.
Explained simply
Formula 1 is a series of races in which drivers compete for points across a season, with the highest-scoring driver becoming world champion. The United States Grand Prix takes place at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
Kimi Antonelli, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen are drivers for Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull respectively. Their teams provide the cars and compete in a separate championship, while each driver’s finishing position contributes to their individual points total.
Antonelli is in contention to become the youngest world champion in the sport’s history. The title is decided over a season, so results in the remaining races determine whether he or another driver finishes with the most points.
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