Kimi Antonelli stamped his authority on the United States Grand Prix with the kind of performance that leaves no doubt what's coming. The Mercedes rookie took pole at COTA, got the jump on inferior rubber, and never gave anyone a sniff. Toto Wolff called it Antonelli's "best race" yet — high praise from a boss who's seen the Italian charge through the field at Monza and dominate elsewhere in 2026. What stood out wasn't just the execution but the mindset. Hours before lights out, Antonelli walked into Wolff's office and said he wasn't thinking about the championship at all, just enjoying the ride. That's the mentality carrying him toward a title that's 99.9 percent locked. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell remain mathematically alive, but barely. Mexico's next. If Antonelli finishes, the tequila flows and the rookie era belongs to the kid Mercedes spent nine years building.
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