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Antonelli was “concerned” by threat from Verstappen’s early pit stop in Austin | Formula 1

Mercedes celebrated a triumphant outing at the United States Grand Prix as Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured victory following a shrewd strategy execution. Early pressure from Max Verstappen sparked initial anxiety when the rival driver dived into the pits on lap 14 for soft compound tires, committing to a multi-stop plan.

Although Mercedes initially kept Antonelli out on track, the tactic ultimately succeeded by allowing him to switch to mediums and subsequently lock in a single-stop approach with durable hard tires.

Reflecting on the successful race, Antonelli acknowledged that starting his stint on medium rubber was a forced necessity due to a lack of fresh soft sets, yet the decision paid off as the hard compound provided exceptional resilience. The win marked the first major milestone for Mercedes since introducing their latest W17 upgrade package in Malaysia.

While Antonelli noted that low-speed front locking remains an area requiring fine-tuning, he expressed satisfaction with the car's overall balance and strong performance in medium- and high-speed corners.

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