Kimi Antonelli is set to attempt clinching the Formula 1 world championship at Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix, requiring only a ninth-place finish to secure the title at age 20. The Mercedes driver qualified fifth on the grid, with his position later adjusted to fourth following a penalty applied to Max Verstappen.
Antonelli revealed after qualifying that he is managing physical discomfort, having recovered from an illness that forced him to miss media obligations earlier in the weekend. He described the race weekend as challenging and acknowledged feeling more tension than normal as he approaches the title decider. The driver noted that he struggled with tire feel during the qualifying session and felt he made errors during his final lap, though he finished within two tenths of pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton. Despite these difficulties, Antonelli expressed determination to refocus ahead of the race.
The performance prompted comparisons with his team-mate George Russell, who finished second in qualifying, nearly matching Hamilton’s pace and suggesting Antonelli may not have reached his optimal level on the day. Antonelli attributed some of his tension to the significance of the championship opportunity, though he committed to getting adequate rest before Sunday’s race.
Lando Norris, the current holder of the number one designation, offered praise for Antonelli’s season, emphasizing that the Mercedes driver has substantially outperformed expectations and his experienced team-mate. Norris stated he would be pleased to relinquish the number one to Antonelli should the Mercedes driver secure the championship, noting that the achievement would be particularly remarkable given that it would occur during only his second season in Formula 1.
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