Antonelli on brink of history at Mexico City GP, needing only ninth-place finish to seal F1 title

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli is on the cusp of history at the Mexico City Grand Prix, needing only a ninth-place finish to secure the Formula 1 championship. At just 20 years old, the record for the youngest champion is held by Sebastian Vettel, who clinched the title at the age of 23 in 2010. Antonelli, who won the recent United States Grand Prix from pole position, will start the race in fourth place on the grid, while his closest rival, Lewis Hamilton, will set off from pole position.

A ninth-place finish for Antonelli, regardless of the outcomes of his teammate George Russell or Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, would enable him to break Vettel's record and potentially become the first Italian driver to win the title since Alberto Ascari in 1953. Mercedes also stands to clinch the constructors' title for the first time since 2021 if Antonelli secures the championship.