Verstappen’s early stop briefly worried Antonelli

After winning the United States Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli said Max Verstappen’s early stop for fresh soft tyres briefly worried him.

Antonelli said the pace on the medium tyres returned, allowing Mercedes to extend his stint without losing too much time. After the first stint on mediums, the team chose a one-stop strategy, he said.

The hard tyre felt robust, Antonelli said, and he trusted it to carry him to the finish, although he did not know exactly how much management it would require. He called the weekend one of his best in Formula 1 and praised Mercedes’ strategy and faith in the one-stop.