Austin, Texas — Kimi Antonelli’s Grand Prix Performance

Kimi Antonelli might not have secured the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship just yet, as his victory at the United States Grand Prix leaves the final decision pending until next weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix.

Still, his boss has noted that this race weekend at Austin represented a “race of a champion.”

Toto Wolff, speaking to the media, including representatives from SB Nation, reflected on Antonelli’s performance during the race, suggesting it may have been his best outing of the season.

“For me, the best race that he’s delivered so far,” Wolff commented. “He started with the inferior tires and managed to control the race throughout, showing resilience of a champion who isn’t quite there yet.”

Antonelli began the United States Grand Prix from pole position — a starting spot he earned with an impressive performance on Saturday — using medium tires while his competitors, including Max Verstappen, Isack Hadjar, and Charles Leclerc, started on softer tires.

“I think he’s outperformed the car,” Wolff remarked. “It might sound a bit tough, but honestly, his driving style just seems to align perfectly with the car.”

When later asked about Antonelli’s previous win at the Italian Grand Prix, where he managed to race from the back of the grid due to a power unit penalty, Wolff quipped that he doesn’t “remember past races.” Yet, Antonelli himself, in the FIA Press Conference, acknowledged Wolff’s positive assessment.

Monza was indeed a remarkable moment for him, given he had the fastest car that day due to the change. However, he pointed out that the situation in Austin on Sunday was quite different.

“At Monza, we had the fastest car,” Antonelli explained during the FIA Press Conference with the media, including SB Nation. “It was a special experience coming from the back. The track allowed for easier overtaking, and we were incredibly quick that day. But I’ll always remember Monza as extraordinary.”

“But, looking at execution, this one was perhaps better because of how we developed our performance throughout the weekend.”

The trajectory of the weekend supports his claim. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton initially set the pace during the three hours of practice, with Antonelli finishing fifth in FP1 and fourth in FP2. He ended Q1 in P6 during Saturday’s qualifying, but then things took off. He was second only to Leclerc in Q2 and then clinched pole position with a stunning lap at the beginning of Q3, setting him up for a potential win and title clinch.

While he didn’t officially clinch the championship with this win, he heads to Mexico with a 123-point lead, leaving a maximum of 125 points available in the remainder of the season—assuming the upcoming Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix proceed as scheduled. To deny Antonelli his first title, something unprecedented would need to happen in the history of Formula 1.

So, the title must wait another week.

Nevertheless, he has certainly showcased the “race of a champion.”