Antonelli Needs Only Ninth Place in Mexico City on Sunday to Become Formula 1's Youngest World Champion

Kimi Antonelli can win the Formula 1 world championship on Sunday, and he barely has to try. After his ninth victory of the season in Austin last weekend, the 20-year-old Mercedes driver arrives at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez 123 points clear of team-mate George Russell with five races left, Formula 1's race preview says. He needs two more points, so ninth place or better seals it. If he scores nothing at all, he is still champion unless Russell or Lewis Hamilton wins the race.

The build-up has not been smooth. Antonelli missed Thursday's media day with a viral infection, the FIA excusing him from his obligations so he could rest, and Mercedes said it expected him back in the car for Friday's two practice sessions, ESPN reported. Valtteri Bottas also sat out Thursday for Cadillac, feeling unwell, with Colton Herta taking his car for first practice.

What record would Antonelli break?

Sebastian Vettel's. Vettel was 23 when he won his first title in 2010; Antonelli, in his second season after replacing Hamilton at Mercedes, would be champion at 20, roughly three years younger. It is a remarkable turn from a difficult rookie year. Behind him the fight for second is tight: Russell, Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc are covered by about ten points, per Formula 1's preview, and Red Bull have drawn level with McLaren on constructors' points after a run of upgrades.

When are practice, qualifying and the race?

Friday's sessions run from 18:30 to 19:30 UTC and 22:00 to 23:00 UTC, final practice is Saturday at 17:30 UTC with qualifying at 21:00 UTC, and the race starts Sunday 1 November at 20:00 UTC, ESPN's guide lists. The forecast is about 27C and dry for qualifying and the race. There is no sprint this weekend.

Why is Mexico City such an unusual circuit?

Altitude. At about 2,200 metres the air is roughly 20 percent thinner than at sea level, which strips downforce and cooling, so teams run Monaco-level wings and still see Monza-level straight-line speeds, according to Formula 1. The 4.3 km lap is run 71 times, the record is Bottas's 1:17.774 from 2021, and the preview puts the chance of a safety car or virtual safety car at 60 percent each based on the last five races. Pirelli expects a one-stop race to be possible, with rear tyre wear and graining the limiting factors. Lando Norris won here for McLaren last year; Verstappen has five Mexico wins, the most of anyone.

None of that changes the arithmetic. A clean Sunday in the points and the sport has its youngest champion. If illness, a first-lap tangle or the thin air intervene, the celebration moves on to Sao Paulo in a fortnight, with Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi still in reserve.