Kimi Antonelli can become Formula 1 champion in Mexico and break Vettel's record

The Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix starts this Friday, October 30, at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. And it could end with a new champion: Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

He needs very little

Antonelli, who drives for Mercedes, leads the championship with 365 points. His teammate George Russell has 242 and Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 241.

Five races and 125 points remain. That is why, on Sunday, all he needs is to:

- Finish in the top nine, no matter what happens. - Or for neither Russell nor Hamilton to win the race.

He arrives on a streak: he won last Sunday in Austin, his ninth victory of the year.

No Italian driver has been Formula 1 champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

A historic record

If he wins the title on Sunday, Antonelli will be 20 years and 68 days old. He would be the youngest champion in history.

The current record belongs to Sebastian Vettel, who won it with Red Bull in 2010 at 23 years and 134 days.

Checo, at home

The weekend is also special for Sergio Checo Pérez. The Mexican race will be his 300th Grand Prix, and he will run it in front of his home crowd with Cadillac, a team that has not scored a single point this year.

Schedule (Mexico City time)

- Friday 30: practice at 12:30 and 16:00. - Saturday 31: practice at 11:30 and qualifying at 15:00. - Sunday, November 1: race at 14:00, over 71 laps.