Antonelli eyes maiden F1 title at U.S. Grand Prix

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli entered the United States Grand Prix in Austin with a mathematical chance to claim his first Formula 1 championship. After 17 races he has recorded eight victories and six podium finishes, putting him ahead of teammate George Russell and other title contenders.

Antonelli said he must win the race and hope that Russell finishes no higher than ninth, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen also need to finish further back for the title to be decided in his favour.

"For me it needs to be a perfect weekend and the others need to do a poor result, which is unlikely to happen. Of course, anything can happen and it's crazy to think about it," Antonelli told reporters on Thursday.

He added that the team’s focus remains on enjoying each race and delivering the best performance possible.

If Antonelli secures the championship, he would become the youngest title-winner at 20 years old, surpassing Sebastian Vettel’s 2010 record. Former champion Lewis Hamilton, who worked with Antonelli during his final season with Mercedes, praised the Italian’s season during Thursday’s press conference.

"It would be a dream. It's something I've dreamt of since I was little," Antonelli said when asked about following a seven-time world champion.

Antonelli emphasized that the season is not over and that the team will continue to aim for strong results before celebrating any potential achievement.