Ninth place in Mexico would be enough to crown Antonelli, as Leclerc sets the fastest time twice on Friday
The 20-year-old Italian can become the youngest world champion ever on Sunday, while Verstappen and Lawson each drop a place after colliding in practice.
Kimi Antonelli is on the verge of the Formula 1 world title in Mexico City this weekend. The Mercedes driver, who leads the standings, will be certain of the title if he finishes ninth or better on Sunday, according to Sporza and HLN. At twenty, he would become the youngest champion ever: Sebastian Vettel was 23 when he won his first title in 2010, Sporza points out. It is the nineteenth of 23 grands prix this season, DH reports. HLN calls it a second chance for Antonelli to seal the title.
There was some uncertainty over his health, as he skipped the official media session on Thursday as a precaution, Sporza writes. There was little sign of that on track on Friday. In first practice, in which ten rookies took the place of regular drivers, Antonelli was second, 0.659 seconds behind Charles Leclerc, DH reports. In second practice he set the fourth-fastest time, 0.217 seconds behind Leclerc again, who clocked 1:17.827 in his Ferrari. Lando Norris and George Russell followed about a tenth back, according to the Formula 1 website.
That second session was interrupted by a collision between Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson. According to the Formula 1 website, the two went side by side through a corner, neither backed out and the contact left debris on the track, bringing out the red flag. HLN described it as a row between the two drivers. The stewards judged both drivers' behaviour unacceptable, all the more so because teams had been warned beforehand. Verstappen and Lawson will each drop one place on Sunday's grid and receive a penalty point. Lewis Hamilton also had bad luck: he had to pull over his Ferrari with a loss of power.
Play Sports commentator Gert Vermersch tells Sporza that Antonelli's rise is exceptional, because it is only his second season and his team-mate Russell was seen as the favourite beforehand. On Saturday, final practice follows at 18:30 Belgian time and qualifying at 22:00. The 71-lap race starts on Sunday at 21:00, DH reports.