Kimi Antonelli sweeps and is just two points away from the F1 title; Alonso struggles with broken car

He still missed the world champion title in Austin by a hair. For only two points! To be the new king of F1 this Sunday, Kimi Antonelli I needed to win, hamilton was a maximum of 5º and Russel9th or worse. And the carom was close to happening. The first part of the equation was fulfilled: Kimi won. But Hamilton was 4th and Russell finished 8th. He was two positions away from the crown. But ultimately, it doesn’t matter. It’s already yours.

The Italian left the title closer than ever, unless he lives a nightmare day in Mexico next Sundaywill be champion there in a week. Kimi Antonelli the crown was prepared to put on his head in the Hermanos Rodríguez, where he only needs to be 9th to be the new F1 World Champion. Everything, after the Italian swept this Sunday’s race with aThe perfect race, as a champion, in which he gave no option to Verstappen, who was 3rd upon being overcome by a Leclerc (2nd) with better strategy and rhythm.

Kimi crushes and there was no duel with Verstappen

Everyone expected an epic battle in Austin between the one who will be the new champion, and the one who everyone considers to be the best driver on the grid, Max Verstappen, with Kimi starting from pole and Max, winner of the two previous rounds, from second place. Everyone expected a vibrant duel in Texaslike two cowboys from the old West. Perhaps that tight fight with Max that everyone imagined, with two cars at an even pace and hand-to-hand battles, is what Kimi needs to win. But this Sunday he didn’t even let it happen. It was much superior.

In his second year, he found himself with the best car on the grid in his hands and defeated a much more experienced driver like Russell. Many praised his talent, his mettle, his composure, the way he withstood pressure in only his second year, with only 20 years old, and its ability to adapt to the new car of 2026 to make a difference. But in the minds of many there is the doubt of what would happen in a one-on-one fight against the beast Max. And in Austin, it didn’t happen either.

Kimi Antonelli had no rival. He did everything right, while everything went wrong for his opponent.. The Bolognese came out better, Verstappen lost positions in the first meters, and while the strategy of Mercedes and the Italian was perfect, one stop away, Red Bull’s plan with Max two stops away and his pace were not good.

After Verstappen’s two stops, Kimi was leading against the Ferraris that had to stop again and had a margin of 29 seconds over Max, or 12 over Norris. He had the race under control. Nobody would reach him.

Exciting fight for 2nd place

The excitement at the top is in the battle for the podium, with a variety of strategies. Norris was 2nd in the final part, after going to a stop, but Verstappen was going to chase him with younger tires. And behind them, Leclerc was on fire with 10 laps remaining with a very young hard rubber, since he was the last of those at the top to make his second stop. Between Max and Charles was the fight for 2nd place. And with 9 laps to go, Max couldn’t handle Lando and Leclerc was close to Verstappen. There would come one of the maneuvers of the year. Another masterpiece from Max.

It seemed that he was defending himself from a Charles with much more pace when braking in Turn 1. But instead, he drove the car around Norris and passed him. He wanted to escape from Charles, who quickly got rid of Lando and would stick to Max’s rear wing again. The four-time champion had the odds to lose, but Charles had to beat him on the track if he wanted to finish 2nd, something that was always difficult.

There were 7 laps left and it seemed very difficult for Verstappen to hold on. And Leclerc achieved it. He snatched 2nd place from a Max who didn’t have his day. Verstappen finished 3rd. And it could have been worse for Red Bull. Max was lucky that a virtual safety car appeared at the end and slowed down Hamilton, who was just one second behind the Dutchman at the end of the race in 4th place.

Albon ruins Fernando Alonso’s career

Fernando Alonso could have had a car with enough pace and good degradation to fight for the points leaving in 12th placebut his chances were ruined on the first turn by a touch from Alex Albon.

He Thai was too optimistic when he attacked Fernando from the inside and ended up hitting the side of Alonso’s car, causing serious damage. The lower part of the floor was destroyed. And with the car badly damaged, with a significant loss of downforce, he kept trying.

Despite this, his good pace caught attention and he extended his first stop in search of a different strategy. But his car had too much damage. He even went so far as to say that he had lost a piece and that he would have to retire. THe had to stop again due to losing the front load. But he continued fighting. No options. But he wanted to take the car to the finish line, finishing 16th.

Sainz, without options

Carlos Sainz had no options with a Williams lacking pace in Austin and finished in 18th place. The Madrid native even had to thank fate after being the protagonist of a tremendous initial scare.

The Spaniard came out well, but Lindblad closed him against the wall. So much so that Sainz ended up touching the wall during full acceleration with the left front wheel. Luckily, an accident that could have been very dangerous did not occur. And not only that, he was able to continue in the race, although without options.