Everything’s Bigger in Texas, Except Antonelli’s Title Celebration

Antonelli won in Austin and still couldn’t clinch the title. This week we get into why. He took pole, got a flying start while Verstappen fumbled his, and controlled the race with a one-stop strategy for his ninth win of the season. Leclerc charged late for second, Verstappen took third, and Hamilton missed the podium by a single second after a Virtual Safety Car froze the race just as he was closing in. We talk through what Mercedes got right, whether Ferrari’s two-stop was a mistake or just bad luck, and why Russell’s eighth place is the only thing stopping the champagne. Antonelli is 123 points clear with 125 left, so Mexico looks like a coronation. We also look at what it all means for the title fight.