Antonelli to 'just have fun' as he aims for title

Kimi Antonelli says he intends to "just have fun" at the United States Grand Prix as he stands on the brink of the Formula 1 World Championship.

This weekend's race in Austin, Texas, is the first time this year the Mercedes driver is mathematically capable of tying up the title.

Antonelli needs to win the race with his team-mate George Russell finishing lower than eighth and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton below fourth.

"It's crazy if you think about it, but that's why I won't think about it," Antonelli said.

"Something catastrophic to others needs to happen for me to become (champion). For me, needs to be a perfect weekend and to the others they need to do a poor result, which is unlikely to happen.

"Everything, anything can happen. But as I said, you know, we had a meeting with 'Bono' (race engineer Peter Bonnington) this morning and we just said: 'Just have fun.' Just always the same mindset as I had all year, one race at a time."

Antonelli, who has won eight out of 17 races so far this year, is 102 points clear of Russell and 111 ahead of Hamilton.

If he leaves Austin 125 points ahead of any other driver, he will become champion.

"Just try to do the best I can every race weekend and then we'll see," he said. "But of course, if I do things well, then the result will come."

Antonelli, who would become the youngest champion in F1 history, said winning the title was "something I've dreamt of since I was little".

He added: "Already to find myself in such a position is incredible. But at the same time, I need to keep going, keep pushing and it's not over yet. So first we'll try to finish the job properly and then we can enjoy the rest.

"For sure, it will be an incredible achievement. But there's still a bit to go."

Many of Antonelli's rivals have expressed their praise for his achievements this year, singling out his improvement in his second season after a difficult debut year in 2025.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri, Haas driver Oliver Bearman and Red Bull's Isack Hadjar all said it was "quite impressive" to see the step forward he had made from one year to the next.

Hamilton, whose seat Antonelli took at Mercedes after the seven-time champion moved to Ferrari for 2025, has watched him develop since he was taken on to the Mercedes young driver programme at the age of 11.

Hamilton said: "He doesn't need any advice. He's shown this year and also last year, but particularly this year, just his talent and his ability, his calmness in approach.

"He's done an amazing job this year, and I'm so proud of him. I'm so proud of the way he's carried himself, how he interacts with the drivers, even with you guys (the media). And it's great to see him and the team excel. If it's not my team, I'd always say, I'd always want to see my old team do well."

There are six races remaining on the schedule, including this one, but there remains doubt as to whether the final two grands prix in Qatar and Abu Dhabi can go ahead because of conflicts in the Middle East.

F1 is pressing ahead with plans to stage the events, having received assurances that it is safe to hold races there, despite the war between the US/Israel and Iran and the conflict involving Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen.

But the sport is also preparing Imola in Italy to step in as a replacement for Abu Dhabi if the situation deteriorates.

On Thursday in Austin, Williams driver Carlos Sainz, who is a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, said he was surprised by how "convinced" the sport's bosses seemed to be that the two end-of-season races could go ahead.

His answer also pointed to the potential effect of US mid-term elections, which are due to be held on 3 November.

He said: "It's very difficult to be convinced right now, because there are still plenty of things happening in the Middle East, and also there is obviously an election that is going to happen in the US, and things that are going to happen in the political side of the world that could affect the next month, month and a half, very suddenly.

"So it's relatively premature to be so convinced. But as it stands, we will go to Qatar and Abu Dhabi, and if the FIA and Formula 1 decide that it's still safe and a good scenario, I think we, as drivers, have to go with whatever they say.

"The world can change a lot in the next month, month and a half, and we need to stay diligent and reactive to whatever happens, and not just go because we want to go right now."