Antonelli Could Become F1's Youngest Champion in Mexico City
Kimi Antonelli can become Formula One's youngest world champion at the Mexican Grand Prix. A finish of ninth or better at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez would be enough, according to The Guardian. He is 20 and in only his second season with Mercedes.
The record he would take is currently held by Sebastian Vettel, who won the title in 2010. Antonelli would also be the first Italian world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
He arrives with a healthy cushion. After winning the United States Grand Prix, Antonelli leads George Russell by 123 points and Lewis Hamilton by 124, as The Guardian reported on 25 October. Points are the running tally that decides the championship, handed out to the top finishers in each race.
His season has been built on winning streaks. He scored five successive victories early in the year, and he has nine wins from 18 races so far, Reuters reported ahead of Mexico. At Monaco he took pole position ahead of Max Verstappen, then won the race after two restarts, the moments when a race is halted and set going again.
Antonelli's pace has been matched by a clear eye on the scoreboard. Russell and Hamilton are both still in the fight on points, so the gap is large but not untouchable over a full race weekend. Every point on the grid is still worth chasing.
For the fans in the grandstands, the appeal is simple. One good afternoon in Mexico City could settle the title, and a 20-year-old from Italy would be the one holding the trophy. The lights go out, and the rest of the story starts from there.
