Kimi Antonelli eyes championship after dominant US Grand Prix victory

Kimi Antonelli, the 20‑year‑old Italian rookie who took a flawless win at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, said the result was exactly what his team needed to keep the championship battle alive. Speaking to the media after crossing the line first, Antonelli highlighted how the performance "felt perfect" and hinted that a title could be within his grasp very soon.

The victory was not just a personal milestone; it also tightened the points gap at the top of the Drivers’ standings. Antonelli now sits just nine points behind championship leader Luca Marquez, with three races remaining in the season. The win also gave his team, Alpine Racing, a crucial boost in the Constructors’ Championship, narrowing the deficit to Mercedes by a mere six points.

Antonelli’s weekend in Texas was characterised by a clean qualifying session, where he started from pole, and a race in which he led from start to finish, fending off challenges from Marquez and Red Bull’s Sofia Alvarez. The young driver praised his crew chief, Marco Bianchi, for flawless pit stops and strategic calls that kept him ahead of the safety‑car periods that shuffled the field.

For Indian fans, the next race – the Singapore Grand Prix – will be broadcast live on FanCode with a 7:30 pm IST start time on 22 October. Antonelli’s strong showing in the United States means the final three rounds could become a dramatic title showdown, and Indian viewers can expect high‑stakes racing as the championship fight intensifies.

Antonelli added that the team’s focus now shifts to maintaining consistency and extracting maximum performance from the Alpine A16 for the remaining circuits. "We know what we’re capable of, and we’ll keep pushing," he said. With the title race tightening, the next few weeks promise to be decisive for both the driver and his team.

Source: Formula1.com