Austin GP is about much more than potential for Antonelli’s first F1 world title

The young Italian driver’s maiden championship is all but secured but Mercedes upgrades will inform next year’s run to the line Young driver’s maiden championship is all but secured but Mercedes upgrades will inform next year’s run to the line There is nothing quite like a potential title decider to bring the fiercest of spotlights to bear as doubtless Kimi Antonelli will discover when he attempts to seal his first championship at the United States Grand Prix this weekend. For the young Italian the goal is straightforward and the culmination of a childhood dream.

However, for his Mercedes team there will be scrutiny over performance in Austin that has significant implications going into next season. The 20-year-old Antonelli holds a 102-point lead over his teammate George Russell and will become Formula One’s youngest world champion if he wins, Russell finishes ninth or lower and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton is fifth or lower. It is not an entirely impossible scenario but even if he does