Team Reactions: 2026 United States Grand Prix Highlights

Mercedes

Kimi Antonelli displayed his prowess at the Circuit of The Americas, securing victory from pole on a one-stop strategy with impressive tire management. His win extends his championship lead, edging him closer to clinching the title in Mexico City. Meanwhile, George Russell's race was marred by a time penalty and struggles with pace, leaving him unable to overtake Oscar Piastri's McLaren and finishing eighth.

**Kimi Antonelli, 1st:** "Incredible to turn the weekend around with a win. The car felt great, and I managed to control the race despite the pressure. Many thanks to the team for their hard work."

**George Russell, 8th:** "A tough day with no pace. The penalty and struggles in overtaking made it difficult. We'll work on improvements for Mexico."

Ferrari

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton capitalized on their aggressive strategies, with Leclerc finishing second after an impressive charge past Max Verstappen late in the race. Hamilton's pursuit of a podium was thwarted by a late VSC, but he took fourth.

**Charles Leclerc, 2nd:** "A fun race with strong pace and strategy. The upgrades boosted my confidence. We're aiming to convert our progress into a win soon."

**Lewis Hamilton, 4th:** "A solid team effort with good strategy. The VSC affected our podium chance, but we have positives to build on for Mexico."

Red Bull

Max Verstappen's race was a mixed bag, with early setbacks and tire issues limiting his ability to challenge for the win. He finished third, while Isack Hadjar ended up sixth after dealing with strategy and system issues.

**Max Verstappen, 3rd:** "Not our best race with tire and engine issues. We've had a good run of podiums, but we're pushing for wins and to secure third in the Constructors'."

McLaren

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished fifth and seventh respectively, managing their one-stop strategies well. Norris showed strong pace, while Piastri defended against Russell, highlighting McLaren's strategic execution.

**Lando Norris, 5th:** "Pushed beyond limits for a top result. The pace on hards was good, but we need more outright speed."

Racing Bulls

Liam Lawson secured ninth with a solid one-stop strategy, while Arvid Lindblad fought through the field to finish twelfth despite early challenges.

**Liam Lawson, 9th:** "A positive weekend with good execution. We're still behind the leaders, but leading the midfield is promising."

Alpine

Pierre Gasly finished tenth, overcoming early contact and damage, while Franco Colapinto retired due to collision damage.

**Pierre Gasly, 10th:** "Scored a point despite damage. The car had good pace, but more could have been possible without issues."

Williams

Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon had eventful races, battling damage and pace limitations. They finished 18th and 17th respectively, with focus on improvement for Mexico.

**Carlos Sainz, 18th:** "A compromised race after early contact. Looking forward to Mexico where we hope to mix it up in the midfield."

Cadillac

Sergio Perez ended 19th in a challenging race for Cadillac, while Valtteri Bottas retired with a power unit issue. The team looks forward to Perez's 300th Grand Prix in Mexico.

**Sergio Perez, 19th:** "A tough weekend, but positives to build on. Excited for my 300th Grand Prix at home in Mexico."

Pirelli

Pirelli noted the strategic variety with all three tire compounds used effectively, highlighting the one-stop strategy as most efficient despite close calls with two-stoppers like Verstappen.

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