Antonelli tops F1 Power Rankings after United States Grand Prix weekend in Austin

Kimi Antonelli was judged the standout driver at the United States Grand Prix weekend in Austin, according to Formula 1’s latest Power Rankings published on October 27, 2026. The five-judge panel placed the Italian at the top after he took pole position and went on to win the race at Circuit of The Americas.

How the rankings are decided

Formula 1 said its Power Rankings are based on a five-judge panel that scores each driver out of 10 for performance across the whole weekend, with machinery left out of the assessment. The judges’ scores are averaged to create a race score, and those totals are then added up over the season to form the overall leaderboard.

That means the rankings are meant to reflect what drivers did with the car they had, not just the result on paper. In Austin, that approach put Antonelli in front after a dominant showing on both Saturday and Sunday.

• Top performer: Kimi Antonelli
• Venue: Circuit of The Americas, Austin
• Event: United States Grand Prix weekend
• Published: October 27, 2026
• Scoring: Five judges, 10-point scale, average used for the weekend score

Antonelli’s pole and race win stood out

The article described Antonelli’s performance as worthy of a world champion, saying he charged to pole position before converting that into victory. Formula 1 said that even with strong efforts from Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, the young Italian was not caught.

The result was framed as another step in Antonelli’s push toward the 2026 drivers’ title. The source also noted that he now has “another finger” on the championship trophy, while the wait continues to see whether he will keep his seat for 2027.

Leclerc, Verstappen and Lawson also caught the judges’ attention

Charles Leclerc was another driver to impress over the weekend. After topping Friday practice and leading Q2, he slipped to fourth in qualifying, but made up ground at the start of the race by passing Isack Hadjar and then Verstappen with a bold move through the esses. He finished as Antonelli’s closest challenger.

Verstappen also featured near the front after arriving in Austin on the back of wins in Malaysia and Singapore. The Dutchman qualified on the front row, but race day brought more difficulty because of a compromised start, strategy concerns he openly questioned, and technical issues. Even so, he still came away with a podium.

Liam Lawson was singled out for continuing to build momentum. Formula 1 said his latest Q3 appearance and points finish in the United States sent another message to Red Bull and Racing Bulls, and that he has now scored in 13 of the 17 Grands Prix he has finished this year.

Other drivers who made an impression

The article also highlighted several midfield performances that mattered across the weekend. Pierre Gasly took a well-earned point for Alpine after fighting close to Q3 and running strongly in the race, despite damage from a battle with Ollie Bearman. Lewis Hamilton finished fourth after starting fifth, while Fernando Alonso recovered from early trouble before contact with Alex Albon forced a front-wing change.

Isack Hadjar was noted for an excellent qualifying effort, putting his car third on the grid, but his race was derailed by a poor start and an incorrect engine map after his pit stop. Nico Hulkenberg, Arvid Lindblad, Esteban Ocon and Gabriel Bortoleto were among those mentioned just outside the Power Rankings places.

For ordinary readers, the rankings offer a quick snapshot of who made the biggest impact over the weekend, beyond the final race result alone. In Austin, the judges agreed that Antonelli’s mix of qualifying speed and race control made him the clear leader.

Source: F1