The key facts

  • Antonelli starts fourth due to Verstappen's penalty and could become the youngest F1 champion
  • To take the title, he only needs to finish ninth or better
  • Hamilton took his 105th pole — his first with Ferrari; Russell and Hamilton trail by 123 and 124 points

The situation before the race

Twenty-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli admitted after qualifying for the Mexican Grand Prix, held on Saturday at the Hermanos Rodríguez circuit, that he had felt tense and had not shown his best form. He qualified fifth but will start fourth, because four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull received a grid penalty. This was reported by AFP.

What is needed for the title

Antonelli could become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history. To guarantee his first title, it is enough for him to finish ninth or higher — even if one of his main rivals wins: his Mercedes teammate George Russell or seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari. It would be the first title for an Italian since Alberto Ascari, who won the championship for Ferrari in 1953. Russell and Hamilton trail in the overall standings by 123 and 124 points respectively.

Qualifying and his condition

Hamilton will start from a record 105th pole position of his career — and his first with Ferrari; Russell takes second place on the grid. Antonelli himself missed the media day on Thursday due to a virus and, in his words, still does not feel one hundred percent. 'In the third segment of qualifying I could not find a good feeling with the tyres. I admit, I lacked confidence and felt some tension. The lap turned out poorly, with mistakes here and there, but in the end I am still fourth, and there is something to fight for tomorrow,' AFP quotes him as saying. Separately, the driver said that the thought of a possible title added to his nerves: 'I am definitely more tense than usual.'