Kimi Antonelli’s triumph at the US Grand Prix on Sunday turned the Texas circuit into a decisive chapter of the 2024 Formula 1 season. The 20‑year‑old Mercedes driver not only secured his ninth win of the year but also placed himself on the brink of becoming the youngest world champion, provided he finishes ninth or higher in the upcoming Mexico City Grand Prix. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc followed closely in second place, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completed the podium in third.
Harry Benjamin, BBC Radio 5 Live’s F1 commentator, released a detailed driver‑by‑driver rating of the weekend, highlighting Antonelli’s “superb” performance under the pressure of his first championship‑clinching opportunity. The Briton praised the Italian’s pole‑winning lap and the flawless execution of a one‑stop strategy, noting that most rivals required two stops. “A superb weekend under the added pressure of having his first opportunity to seal the championship,” Benjamin wrote.
Leclerc, described as “very close to a perfect weekend,” topped the Friday practice sessions and qualified fourth before delivering a “brilliant” race. The Ferrari driver’s late overtakes on Lando Norris and Verstappen were singled out as key moments that cemented his second‑place finish. “Fastest in both Friday practice sessions, qualified fourth and then raced brilliantly,” the commentator recorded.
Verstappen’s race, according to Benjamin, was “quick all weekend and put the Red Bull on the front row, but the poor start immediately made his race more difficult.” Despite the setback, the Dutchman recovered to finish third, marking his sixth consecutive podium in the United States.
Behind the front three, the driver ratings revealed a mixed bag of fortunes. Ferrari’s second driver, Charles Leclerc’s teammate, delivered “another strong weekend but behind team‑mate Leclerc for the majority of it.” He topped the final practice session, narrowly missed Leclerc in qualifying, and finished fourth after Ferrari opted for a two‑stop plan.
McLaren’s Lando Norris, who started eighth on the grid, was penalised for a track‑limits infringement that saw his quickest Q3 lap deleted. Benjamin noted that “qualifying should have been better” and that McLaren’s decision to keep him on ageing tyres contributed to his eventual fifth‑place finish.
Red Bull’s teammate, Max Verstappen’s fellow driver, managed a “fairly subdued weekend by the McLaren man’s standards,” finishing seventh after a first‑lap clash with Mercedes’ George Russell, which the stewards ruled in Russell’s favour.
Mercedes’ own drivers experienced contrasting results. Antonelli’s teammate, whose name was not given in the source, “admitted both of his Q3 laps were poor and then picked up a five‑second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage in his battle with Piastri, eventually finishing eighth.” The other Mercedes driver, who qualified on the front row, “recovered well despite problems with the car and still came away with a sixth consecutive podium.”
The Alpine and Haas entries also featured in the ratings. Alpine’s driver, who missed Q3, “fought his way back into the points after an early dice with Haas’ Oliver Bearman.” Haas’ Bearman, despite a strong qualifying performance, was limited to 14th after the team prioritised his undamaged car.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, who started from the pit lane after a series of car changes, managed to finish ahead of his teammate, a “reasonable recovery” that earned him 15th place. His teammate’s race was marred by a slow pit stop and contact with Williams’ Alex Albon, resulting in a finish behind Stroll.
Williams, long known for struggling at circuits that expose car weaknesses, could not improve its fortunes in Austin. The team’s driver qualified behind teammate Carlos Sainz but managed to “recover to lead the team home after an eventful opening part of the race.”
The lower‑midfield teams, including Cadillac, Alpine’s second driver and another Haas driver, faced a series of penalties, technical issues and early exits that left them unable to challenge for points. Benjamin’s notes on these drivers ranged from “qualified last before eventually retiring” to “a power‑unit penalty dropped him from ninth to 14th on the grid.”
With the US Grand Prix now behind them, the championship narrative turns to Mexico City. Antonelli’s title hopes hinge on a top‑nine finish, a scenario that would make him the youngest champion in Formula 1 history. Leclerc, still mathematically in the hunt, will look to close the gap to his rival, while Verstappen aims to keep the Red Bull challenge alive.
The driver ratings compiled by Harry Benjamin provide a comprehensive snapshot of performance across the grid, underscoring how a single race can reshape the title fight. As teams pack up and head north, the next weekend’s showdown in Mexico promises to be the final test for Antonelli’s championship bid and the last chance for his rivals to mount a comeback.
