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. Kimi Antonelli has won eight races so far this season 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