Mexico Grand Prix LIVE: What 'tense' 20yo superstar Kimi Antonelli needs to claim historic title

Kimi Antonelli said he felt tense and below his best after qualifying fifth for the Mexico City Grand Prix, where he can become Formula 1’s youngest world champion. The 20-year-old Italian missed Thursday’s media day at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez with a virus and will start fourth, helped by Max Verstappen’s grid penalty. Antonelli needs to finish ninth or better to secure the drivers’ title, even if a main rival wins: Mercedes teammate George Russell or Ferrari’s seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton will start Sunday from his record 105th pole position and first with Ferrari, with Russell second. They are 124 and 123 points behind Antonelli. Antonelli attributed his issues to tyre confidence in Q3, while Oscar Piastri starts 13th after a tyre gamble, and Liam Lawson goes to the back due to technical reasons.