Antonelli vows to 'just have fun' as he chases title in Austin
Kimi Antonelli said he will "just have fun" at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, this weekend as he stands on the verge of securing the Formula 1 World Championship. The Mercedes driver said this weekend is the first time this season he can be mathematically capable of tying up the title.
Antonelli has won eight of the 17 races so far this year and sits 102 points clear of team-mate George Russell and 111 ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton. To clinch the championship in Austin he must win while Russell finishes lower than eighth and Hamilton finishes below fourth; if he leaves Austin 125 points ahead of any other driver, he will become champion. Antonelli would become the youngest champion in F1 history if he achieves that outcome.
Asked about the pressure of the situation, Antonelli said: "It's crazy if you think about it, but that's why I won't think about it," and added: "Something catastrophic to others needs to happen for me to become (champion). For me, needs to be a perfect weekend and to the others they need to do a poor result, which is unlikely to happen. "Everything, anything can happen. But as I said, you know, we had a meeting with 'Bono' (race engineer Peter Bonnington) this morning and we just said: 'Just have fun.' Just always the same mindset as I had all year, one race at a time."
On his approach to the remaining races Antonelli said: "Just try to do the best I can every race weekend and then we'll see," and added: "But of course, if I do things well, then the result will come." He reflected on the personal significance of the opportunity, saying winning the title was "something I've dreamt of since I was little" and adding: "Already to find myself in such a position is incredible. But at the same time, I need to keep going, keep pushing and it's not over yet. So first we'll try to finish the job properly and then we can enjoy the rest. "For sure, it will be an incredible achievement. But there's still a bit to go."
Rivals have publicly acknowledged Antonelli's progress from 2025 into his second season; McLaren's Oscar Piastri, Haas driver Oliver Bearman and Red Bull's Isack Hadjar all described the step forward as "quite impressive." Hamilton, whose seat Antonelli took at Mercedes, said: "He doesn't need any advice. He's shown this year and also last year, but particularly this year, just his talent and his ability, his calmness in approach. "He's done an amazing job this year, and I'm so proud of him. I'm so proud of the way he's carried himself, how he interacts with the drivers, even with you guys (the media). And it's great to see him and the team excel. If it's not my team, I'd always say, I'd always want to see my old team do well."
There are six races remaining on the schedule, including Austin, but uncertainty surrounds the final two grands prix in Qatar and Abu Dhabi because of conflicts in the Middle East. Formula 1 is pressing ahead with plans to stage those events, having received assurances that it is safe to hold races there, despite the war between the US/Israel and Iran and the conflict involving Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi revels in Yemen. The sport is preparing Imola in Italy to step in as a replacement for Abu Dhabi if the situation deteriorates.
Williams driver Carlos Sainz, who is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, said he was surprised by how "convinced" the sport's bosses seemed to be that the two end-of-season races could go ahead and warned of other uncertainties, including the US mid-term elections on 3 November. He said: "It's very difficult to be convinced right now, because there are still plenty of things happening in the Middle East, and also there is obviously an election that is going to happen in the US, and things that are going to happen in the political side of the world that could affect the next month, month and a half, very suddenly. "So it's relatively premature to be so convinced. But as it stands, we will go to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, and if the FIA and Formula 1 decide that it's still safe and a good scenario, I think we, as drivers, have to go with whatever they say. "The world can change a lot in the next month, month and a half, and we need to stay diligent and reactive to whatever happens, and not just go because we want to go right now."
Antonelli will compete at the United States Grand Prix in Austin this weekend, the next opportunity for him to secure the championship if the specific conditions he outlined are met.
