Credit : Formula 1's X
AUSTIN — Max Verstappen is out of contention for the Formula 1 drivers’ title for the first time since 2020, after Kimi Antonelli’s victory at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday (October 25, local time) put the championship lead beyond the Dutchman’s reach.
Formula 1 confirmed the milestone on its official X account, writing: “Max Verstappen is out of Drivers’ Title contention for the first time since 2020.” The accompanying graphic, showing the Red Bull driver walking away from the camera, said he was “out of contention for the first time in 2,184 days”.
Verstappen finished third at the Circuit of The Americas, 17.485 seconds behind Antonelli and 4.407 seconds behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, according to the official results. The 15 points took him to 236 in the standings, but Antonelli’s win moved the Mercedes driver to 365, a gap of 129 points. With 125 points still to play for in the remaining races, Verstappen can no longer catch him.
The podium itself was hard-won. Formula 1’s race report said Verstappen made a poor start and had to withstand “multiple niggles” with his Red Bull during the afternoon. Pirelli said he ran a two-stop race on soft, soft and medium tyres. He passed McLaren’s Lando Norris at the start of Lap 47 to move into second, before Leclerc came through to take the position from him late in the race. Lewis Hamilton followed him home in fourth, with Norris fading to fifth on ageing tyres.
Verstappen’s exit from the title fight closes a remarkable run. The Dutchman won four consecutive drivers’ championships from 2021 to 2024 with Red Bull and had stayed in mathematical contention in every season since. F1 also shared a clip of his aggressive opening laps in Austin, describing him “sending it in the only way Max knows”.
While the title itself now rests between Antonelli and his closest pursuers, the battle for second place could hardly be closer. Formula 1 noted that “only nine points separate P2 to P5” in the drivers’ standings. George Russell is second on 242 points, one ahead of Lewis Hamilton on 241, with Verstappen fourth on 236 and Leclerc fifth on 233.
Only Russell and Hamilton can still mathematically stop Antonelli. BBC Sport reported that the Italian will be crowned at the Mexico City Grand Prix next weekend as long as he does not lose more than 23 points to Russell or more than 24 to Hamilton, meaning ninth place could be enough even if Russell wins.
Red Bull’s season is still alive in the constructors’ championship. Formula 1 said Red Bull Racing and McLaren leave Austin tied on 355 points each, fighting for third place behind Mercedes on 607 and Ferrari on 474. Team-mate Isack Hadjar added eight points for Red Bull with sixth place in Texas.
The next round is the Mexico City Grand Prix, where Verstappen will race for wins and the runner-up spot rather than the crown for the first time in six seasons.
Formula 1 shared the milestone on X.
https://x.com/F1/status/2114549828537495944
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