Antonelli Nears F1 Title After Mexico GP Qualifying

Kimi Antonelli missed Mexico City Grand Prix media duties while recovering from a viral illness and was not at his quickest over the weekend, but qualified fourth. He could clinch the Formula One title if he finishes in the top nine should George Russell win, or the top 10 if Lewis Hamilton wins; if neither rival wins, Antonelli secures the championship regardless of his result. Hamilton took his first pole position as a Ferrari driver, 0.009 seconds ahead of Russell, with Charles Leclerc third. Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas also missed media day because he was unwell, and reserve drivers Frederik Vesti and Zhou Guanyu were potential replacements if Antonelli or Bottas could not race. Haas replaced Esteban Ocon with reserve Ryo Hirakawa for the weekend, while Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson received grid penalties after a practice collision.