Antonelli Superb and Leclerc Close to Perfect: United States Grand Prix Driver Ratings

Kimi Antonelli delivered a masterclass at the Circuit of the Americas as he claimed a dominant ninth victory of the 2026 season in the United States Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver controlled proceedings from pole position and executed a flawless one-stop strategy to finish more than 13 seconds clear of the field. Charles Leclerc produced a near-perfect weekend of his own for Ferrari, climbing from fourth on the grid to second place with a series of sharp overtakes late in the race.

Max Verstappen completed the podium for Red Bull, while Lewis Hamilton finished fourth. The result leaves Antonelli on the brink of becoming Formula 1’s youngest world champion. A finish of ninth or higher at next weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix would be enough to seal the title for the 20-year-old Italian.

Perfect Weekend for Championship Leader Antonelli

Antonelli’s performance across the entire Austin weekend earned him a perfect 10 out of 10 rating. Under the pressure of his first mathematical opportunity to clinch the championship, he produced an outstanding qualifying lap to take pole by nearly two tenths of a second. On race day he made a clean start, quickly established a gap, and managed his tyres with maturity beyond his years.

Mercedes elected to start Antonelli on medium tyres while several rivals began on softs. That choice allowed him to stretch the stint and complete the race on a single stop. Most of the field required two stops, yet Antonelli maintained consistent pace and never looked threatened. The victory extended his championship lead to 123 points over teammate George Russell and underlined his status as the standout driver of the season.

Leclerc Delivers Near-Flawless Performance

Charles Leclerc came within half a point of a perfect score with a 9.5 rating. The Ferrari driver was the fastest car in both Friday practice sessions and qualified a strong fourth. In the race he showed excellent race craft, making late passes on Lando Norris and Max Verstappen to secure second place.

Leclerc’s Ferrari appeared competitive on the harder compound, and he maximised every opportunity. Although he could not challenge Antonelli’s superior one-stop strategy, his recovery drive and consistent speed throughout the weekend marked one of his strongest performances of 2026. Ferrari will take encouragement from the result as they continue to close the gap to Mercedes.

Solid Efforts from Verstappen and Hamilton

Max Verstappen received an 8.5 rating after a mixed but ultimately productive weekend. The Red Bull driver qualified on the front row and showed strong pace in practice. A poor start, however, dropped him behind and forced him to fight back through the field. Despite issues with the car at times, he recovered to third and extended his consecutive podium streak.

Lewis Hamilton earned a solid 7.5. The seven-time champion was fastest in final practice and only narrowly missed out on a higher grid position. Ferrari’s decision to run a two-stop strategy left him fighting in the midfield for much of the race, yet he still managed to finish fourth ahead of the McLarens. Hamilton continues to show strong form even if the ultimate result did not fully reflect his underlying speed.

Midfield and Lower-Order Performances

Further down the order, several drivers produced commendable efforts. Lando Norris finished fifth for McLaren after a steady race, while Isack Hadjar impressed again with sixth place for Red Bull. Oscar Piastri and George Russell rounded out the top eight. Russell’s weekend was more difficult, as he struggled to match his teammate’s pace and finished a distant eighth.

The lower midfield saw mixed results, with some drivers managing strong recoveries while others were hampered by strategy calls or technical issues. Three drivers failed to finish, underlining the demanding nature of the Circuit of the Americas.

Looking Ahead to Mexico

Antonelli’s dominant display in Austin has left him within touching distance of history. The 20-year-old now heads to Mexico City knowing that a modest result could make him the youngest Formula 1 world champion of all time. Leclerc’s strong showing will give Ferrari confidence heading into the final stretch of the season, while Verstappen and Red Bull will look to close the gap further.

The United States Grand Prix will be remembered for Antonelli’s controlled excellence and Leclerc’s determined charge. Both drivers produced performances that stood out clearly in the driver ratings, setting a high benchmark as the championship battle enters its decisive phase.

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