Third place at the Singapore Grand Prix has allowed Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes' 20-year-old Italian, to stretch his championship lead over team-mate George Russell to 102 points. With six races remaining, he has the chance to wrap up the title early at the United States Grand Prix in Austin and become the youngest champion in Formula 1 history. To do so, Antonelli must win the race, with Russell finishing ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton fifth or lower. Antonelli has eight victories this season, Russell just three.
"Can I? Really? Well, let's not worry about that. Let's try to do the best weekend as possible and finish the job," the young Italian replied when 2009 world champion Jenson Button told him the title was within reach. He also spoke about his approach. "The mindset is always the same, to go out there and win and perform the best way I can," he said. Should Antonelli take the crown in Texas, he will have secured the championship with five rounds still to run.
