Here's the thing about racing: sometimes a machine transforms completely when it actually matters. Kimi Antonelli marched right to the brink of securing his first world title with a stunning, commanding victory at the United States Grand Prix, leaving the opposition behind.
That success looked entirely out of reach when the weekend first opened. Mercedes certainly didn't look like a threat for pole position or the race win during Friday practice at the Circuit of The Americas, as the Silver Arrows scrambled simply to understand their upgraded 2026-spec car.
Yet, none of those early struggles stopped Antonelli. The Italian champion elect answered back with a brilliant lap in Qualifying, slicing through the problems to claim P1 and set up a masterclass of a race day.
