George Russell acknowledged his pace was “rubbish” in Austin on Sunday after he just about stretched the F1 title race to Mexico City next week.
Russell, starting in sixth, was given a five-second time penalty early on at the US Grand Prix for a clash with Oscar Piastri and then struggled for speed, coming home in only eighth place.
Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli, meanwhile, claimed his ninth win of the season and now only needs to finish ninth next week in Mexico to seal his first world championship.
It was another tough Sunday pill for Russell to swallow and the Briton, who was the heavy title favourite ahead of the season, admitted he “does not have the answers” to his issues right now.
“The pace was rubbish today – that's the long and short of it,” Russell told Sky Sports.
“Five second [penalty] cost me two or three positions, but the pace wasn't good enough when it needed to be. I don't know – just not being quick enough.
“I need to try and understand why it is. It's strange when you're so far off. Hopefully there's some answers somewhere, but right now I don't have them.”
Russell now trails Antonelli by a whopping 123 points with 125 left to play for over the remaining five rounds of the year.
“We are very close,” the 20-year-old Italian, who would become the sport’s youngest-ever champion, said after his win in Austin. “We try to finish on a high and hopefully we can clinch it very soon,” Antonelli said.
“I am going to approach with the same mindset – to have fun and fight for another win. Would be best to finish well, that’s the goal but just going to try and enjoy the rest of the season.
“I am very happy because I have a very good group of people around me in the team and my father who always comes,” Antonelli added.
“A great group of people that help me to be more relaxed and not worry about these kind of things, help me to block out the noise and allow me to enjoy the weekend and perform.
“On Thursday a lot of talk about championship and stuff and I just try to not worry about that and deliver the best result I could. Today was very important for me and the team.”
Read MoreF1 standings after United States GP as Kimi Antonelli closes in on 2026 title
Kimi Antonelli moves to brink of F1 title with supreme United States GP triumph
Kimi Antonelli aiming to complete his F1 title march in style in Mexico City
F1 standings after United States GP as Kimi Antonelli closes in on 2026 title
Kimi Antonelli aiming to complete his F1 title march in style in Mexico City
F1 United States GP LIVE: Race result and standings today as Antonelli wins
