Kimi Antonelli stands on the precipice of Formula One history, needing just two points in next weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix to become the sport’s youngest-ever world champion after delivering a masterclass at the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday. The 20-year-old Italian’s dominant ninth victory of the season has set up a potential coronation in Mexico City, and he’s refusing to let the pressure alter his approach.
“The best way, the perfect way, would be to finish off in style and then just enjoy the rest of the season,” Antonelli said after his first triumph in four races. “I’m very aware that it’s very close but the mindset doesn’t change. I want to finish the season on a high in order to then go with high hopes into 2027. But we’ll first focus and worry about finishing this well, and then we’ll see.”
The Mercedes prodigy sits on 365 points, a commanding 123 clear of teammate George Russell on 242 and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton on 241. A top-nine finish crowns him champion regardless of what his rivals do. Should he fail to score, Russell or Hamilton must win to keep their fading hopes alive.
Antonelli is poised to obliterate Sebastian Vettel’s record as F1’s youngest champion. The German was 23 years and 133 days old when he claimed his maiden crown in 2010. More significantly for the tifosi, Antonelli would become Italy’s first world champion since Alberto Ascari’s 1953 triumph—a 74-year drought finally ended.
“That was the perfect way to end the weekend,” he beamed. “It was an incredible team effort, especially from strategy, to believe in me and go for one stop because I wasn’t sure whether one or two stop was the quickest. Today was a really important victory for me and for the team, especially after having a couple of difficult races, so being back on top feels very good.”
Antonelli’s infectious personality has won admirers throughout the paddock, with 1996 world champion Damon Hill singing his praises on the BBC. “The team love him, he’s enjoying everything he’s got in F1 and he’s very grateful for all the breaks they’ve given him at Mercedes. But he delivers. He’s such a nice kid. It’s incredible. Twenty years old and he’s on the verge of winning his first championship, which I’m sure will be the first of many.”
Russell’s title hopes effectively evaporated with an eighth-place finish. “My pace was just rubbish today. That’s the long and short of it,” the Briton admitted after copping an early five-second penalty.
Hamilton echoed the frustration. “I felt the race was lost in my first two stints. I lost so much time. I think I’ve lost a lot of points in the last five races or so and it’s really come from set-up or just not perfecting the set-up.”
Mexico beckons. History awaits.
