Antonelli needs ninth place in Mexico City to become youngest F1 champion
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, 20, starts fourth at Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix after Lewis Hamilton took pole. He leads Russell by 123 points and Hamilton by 124, and said he felt tense after qualifying.
Kimi Antonelli can become Formula One's youngest world champion at the Mexico City Grand Prix later on Sunday. The 20-year-old Italian qualified fifth on Saturday, AFP reported. He will start fourth because Red Bull's Max Verstappen has a grid penalty. A finish of ninth or better will give him the title even if one of his rivals wins the race. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton starts from pole. It is the record 105th pole of his career and his first for Ferrari. Mercedes driver George Russell starts second. Russell is 123 points behind Antonelli, and Hamilton is 124 behind. According to Citizen Digital, they can only delay the title if one of them wins and Antonelli finishes 10th or worse. The Guardian reported that Antonelli would still be crowned even if he retired on the first lap, as long as neither rival won. Antonelli said he struggled to get a good feeling with the tyres in the final part of qualifying. He admitted he was "a bit more tense than usual" and still not feeling 100%. He missed Thursday's media day with a virus. Mercedes said he was unwell and needed to recover properly. Antonelli added that his lap had "many mistakes" but there was still…
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