Right, here we go. The Mexico City Grand Prix is this weekend and honestly, it could be one of the biggest moments in Formula 1 history. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the 20-year-old Mercedes driver, is on the absolute brink of becoming the youngest world champion the sport has ever seen. He's been absolutely flying this season and Austin last weekend only strengthened his grip on what would be an extraordinary first title. All eyes are on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez for round 19, and this could be the weekend everything gets sealed.
More F1 news: Mercedes Can Wrap Up Mexico Double, But Ferrari Has to Have a Shocker
Here's the wild part, though. Antonelli won't even be at Thursday's media day because he's picked up an illness. Not ideal timing when you're about to potentially make history, but it shows you the intensity of this run-in. Valtteri Bottas is also dealing with sickness, which just shows how brutal the schedule's been. We're in the middle of a triple-header stretch and the drivers are absolutely battered. But Antonelli's got the pace and the points, so even a bit of illness probably won't derail what's coming.
More F1 news: Ferrari's Race Pace Masterclass at Austin: Leclerc and Hamilton Dominate Average Lap Times Despite Antonelli's Win
The math is actually mental when you really look at it. If Max Verstappen wins the race, or if anyone other than George Russell or Lewis Hamilton takes the victory, then Antonelli's champion no matter where he finishes. Mercedes can also wrap up the constructors' championship on Sunday, but they'll need Ferrari to have a genuinely shocking day. That 39-point gap isn't massive when you're talking about Ferrari's potential performance on any given weekend.
More F1 news: Antonelli Dominates COTA to Claim 2026 US Grand Prix Victory
Ferrari's bringing Dino Beganovic in for first practice, which means either Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc will be sitting out that opening session. Hamilton's been pushing hard and Leclerc's had some solid pace himself, so Ferrari won't want to lose momentum when they're still fighting on both fronts. It's going to be tight right up until Sunday, but the momentum is definitely with Antonelli and Mercedes heading into Mexico.
Shop the collection: Max Verstappen merch • Charles Leclerc merch • Lewis Hamilton merch • George Russell merch • Kimi Antonelli merch • Scuderia Ferrari merch • Mercedes-AMG merch • Red Bull Racing merch
0 comments