PALMER: WAS THE US GP ANTONELLI’S MOST DOMINANT WIN YET?

Kimi Antonelli turned what looked like a vulnerable pole position into a commanding US Grand Prix victory, prompting Toto Wolff to call it the Italian's best race yet. Leclerc closed to within 11.7 seconds at the checkered flag—nearly matching Antonelli's season-best 13.7-second margin from Japan—but never threatened the Mercedes driver.

The win looked anything but assured on the grid. Mercedes had considered pole a long shot in qualifying, and Austin's wide run to Turn 1 has historically favored the P2 starter, who typically gets a better launch and a clear shot at the lead. Antonelli nailed the start anyway and controlled the race from there.

It wasn't the wheel-to-wheel spectacle of some of his earlier wins, but the execution was clinical. For a rookie managing tire deg and track position at COTA, that's the kind of maturity that wins championships. McLaren and Ferrari have company.