The boy chasing history: Kimi Antonelli's shot at F1 immortality

Kimi Antonelli arrives at the Mexico City Grand Prix on the brink of Formula One history. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver needs just two points to become the sport's youngest world champion and end Italy's 73-year wait for an F1 title.

For 73 years, Italy has waited for another Formula One world champion. The name at the top of that country's title-winning history remains Alberto Ascari, whose back-to-back triumphs in 1952 and 1953 belong to a different era of the sport.

Now, a 20-year-old from Bologna has the chance to bring that wait to an end. Kimi Antonelli arrives in Mexico City with one hand on the championship and the opportunity to become the youngest world champion Formula One has ever seen. He needs just two points on Sunday. A top-nine finish will be enough, even if Mercedes teammate George Russell wins the race.

It is a remarkable position for a driver who is only in his second season in the sport. Antonelli has won nine of the 18 races so far, built a 123-point advantage and turned what once promised to be a close title fight into a march towards history. The Mexican Grand Prix could provide the setting for its conclusion.

A CHANCE TO MAKE HISTORY

The numbers tell one part of Antonelli's story. His nine victories have established him as the dominant driver of the season, while his advantage over Russell reflects a level of consistency that his more experienced teammate has struggled to match.

But the significance of this weekend stretches beyond the championship standings. Should Antonelli finish the job, he will become the youngest driver to win the Formula One world title. He would also become Italy's first champion since Ascari, ending a 73-year gap that has outlasted generations of drivers.

Ascari remains one of the defining figures in Ferrari's history. He won 13 of his 32 races and claimed the world championship twice, in 1952 and 1953. Antonelli now has the chance to place his name alongside that legacy, although his immediate task is much simpler: score the points required and avoid turning a comfortable position into an unnecessary fight.

His preparations were briefly interrupted by illness. Antonelli missed Thursday's media commitments after coming down with a viral infection, raising questions about whether it might affect his weekend. He returned to the car on Friday, however, and finished second in the opening practice session before placing fourth in FP2.

The young Italian has spoken about keeping the same mindset and enjoying the final stretch of the season. With the title within reach, he wants to keep fighting for victories rather than allow the prospect of making history to become a distraction.

LECLERC SETS THE PACE

Antonelli may be the centre of attention, but Friday's running suggested that the race for victory could be more complicated than the championship picture. Charles Leclerc topped both practice sessions for Ferrari, setting the fastest time in the morning and improving again in the afternoon.

The Monegasque finished ahead of Antonelli in FP1 and led Lando Norris and Russell in FP2. The times offered Ferrari an encouraging start, although Leclerc was cautious about drawing conclusions. He described the circuit as slippery and said the team still had limitations to address.

Norris, last year's winner in Mexico City, also showed promising pace with second place in the afternoon session. McLaren, however, may not have the same advantage it enjoyed at this circuit a year ago. Lewis Hamilton had a more difficult session, losing power and stopping on track. The seven-time world champion, a two-time winner in Mexico, is third in the standings and sits just one point behind Russell.

Max Verstappen is another driver who cannot be overlooked. The Red Bull star has won five of his last eight appearances in Mexico and knows how to make the most of the circuit. His FP2 session included contact with Liam Lawson, but his record at the venue makes him a threat if Red Bull finds the right balance.

RUSSELL'S TOUGH SEASON

For Russell, Mexico is another weekend in which he must measure himself against a teammate who has taken the season by storm. The Briton has won three races, compared with Antonelli's nine, and has acknowledged that the Italian has performed at a higher level.

Russell has also pointed to the challenges of adapting to the current generation of cars, saying the machinery has not suited his driving style. He has been keen to stress that one difficult season will not define his career. At 28, he believes he has plenty of time to return to the front.

That perspective may help him look beyond the immediate disappointment, but the contrast within Mercedes is difficult to ignore. Antonelli has turned his opportunity into a title challenge, while Russell has been left trying to understand why the same machinery has produced such different results.

PEREZ'S HOME MILESTONE

There will be another major storyline in Mexico City, and it belongs to Sergio Perez. The Cadillac driver is set to make his 300th Grand Prix start in front of his home crowd, giving the weekend a personal significance beyond the championship battle.

Perez missed last year's Mexican Grand Prix after leaving Red Bull at the end of 2024. His return to the grid in front of local supporters makes this milestone particularly meaningful, even if Cadillac is unlikely to challenge at the front.

The weekend also carries significance for the constructors' standings. Red Bull and McLaren are level on points, with Red Bull ahead on countback, while Audi and Haas are separated by only seven points in the fight for seventh. Mercedes could mathematically secure the constructors' title in Mexico, but Brazil looks a more realistic opportunity.

The atmosphere around the circuit will be shaped by the celebrations of the Day of the Dead, adding another layer to a weekend already rich in history and expectation.

For Antonelli, though, the task is clear. He does not need a victory, a pole position or another record-breaking drive. Two points will do. Yet the possibility of what those points could mean gives this race a significance far beyond the result.

Italy has waited since Ascari. Formula One has never had a champion as young as Antonelli. Mexico City could be where both stories change.