Kimi Antonelli wins the United States Grand Prix to be on the verge of the F1 world tiitle

Kimi Antonelli is on the cusp of becoming the youngest F1 world champion in history after winning the United States Grand Prix.

Antonelli crossed the chequered flag first in Austin, Texas – ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

The 20-year-old Italian leads Mercedes team-mate George Russell by 123 points and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by 124.

Antonelli will be crowned champion at the Mexican Grand Prix next weekend as long as he does not lose more than 23 points to Russell or more than 24 to Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

As a result, a ninth-placed finish in Mexico City will be enough for him to win the title even if Russell wins the race, and a 10th would be enough if Hamilton is victorious.

If Russell or Hamilton fail to win, then Antonelli will become champion regardless.

‘I know we are very close. We try to finish on a high and hopefully we can clinch it very soon,’ Antonelli said after winning in Austin.

As for the rest of the race standings, Hamilton finished fourth, reigning F1 world champion Lando Norris came fifth with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar sixth. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri (seventh), Russell (eighth), Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson (ninth) and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly (tenth) round out the top 10.

What’s next?

F1 heads south to Mexico next weekend where Antonelli can break Sebastian Vettel’s (23 years and 133 days in 2010) to become the youngest F1 world champion in history.

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