Kimi Antonelli is one finish away from etching his name into the Formula 1 history books. A ninth-place finish, or better, in Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix means the 20-year-old Italian driver will be the youngest world champion ever. That’s it. One race. Ninth place. Period. After nearly sealing the deal last week at the United States Grand Prix, the F1 world is absolutely buzzing for what could be a historic moment.
The Championship Is Literally On The Line
This is the 19th of 23 rounds in the world championship, and Antonelli is rocking a massive 123-point lead over his Mercedes teammate George Russell. He’s also got a 124-point edge on Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. So yeah, the numbers are heavily in his favor. He needs to finish ninth or better, and it doesn’t even matter where Russell or Hamilton place. But get this: if he lands tenth or worse, he still wins the title, *provided* neither Russell nor Hamilton win the grand prix. Talk about high stakes! If he pulls it off, Antonelli will join an exclusive club of just five other drivers who’ve clinched the title in Mexico City: John Surtees (1964), Denny Hulme (1967), Graham Hill (1968), and Lewis Hamilton (who did it twice, in 2017 and 2018). History is calling!
Mexico City: A Track Built for Drama
The stage for this potential crowning moment is the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. It’s a 2.674-mile, 17-turn beast of a track, with drivers battling it out for 71 laps, covering 189 miles. The lap record belongs to Valtteri Bottas, who ripped it in 1:17.774 back in 2021. This weekend, they’ll be on C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), and C5 (Soft) tire compounds, so strategy is going to be huge. Last year’s winner? Lando Norris for McLaren-Mercedes. But when you talk Mexico City, you have to talk Max Verstappen. He’s an absolute legend here, with five victories between 2017 and 2023. No wonder he’s the slight favorite at +138, even over Antonelli at +150. Other top contenders include Charles Leclerc (+900), Lewis Hamilton (+1100), George Russell (+1400), and Lando Norris (+1400). The weather looks pristine, with highs in the mid-70s and zero rain expected, but this track sits at about 7,300 feet above sea level and is surrounded by mountains. Conditions can change in a blink, adding another layer of challenge to an already insane race.
This weekend is set to be legendary. You won’t want to miss Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix, with pre-race coverage starting at 1:50 p.m. Eastern, and the race itself at 3 p.m. Eastern. Will Antonelli make history? The F1 world is holding its breath.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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