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Kimi Antonelli: Mercedes driver admits to feeling 'tense' amid effort to seal F1 title at Mexico City Grand Prix
Kimi Antonelli needs top-nine finish to become world champion at Mexico City Grand Prix; he only qualified fifth and was off the pace compared to Mercedes team-mate George Russell; watch Sunday's race at 8pm (build-up from 6.30pm), live on Sky Sports F1
Sunday 1 November 2026 00:48, UK
Kimi Antonelli has admitted to feeling "more tense than usual" ahead of attempting to seal the Formula 1 world championship at Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix.
The 20-year-old only needs to finish ninth in the race to become the sport's youngest world champion.
Antonelli qualified fifth on Saturday but will start from fourth on the grid due to a penalty for Max Verstappen.
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Speaking after the session, the Italian revealed that he is not feeling his best as he continues to recover from an illness that caused him to miss his media duties on Thursday.
He told Sky Sports F1: "It has not been the easiest weekend to be fair.
"Definitely still not feeling 100 per cent. There is talk of what could happen [with the championship] and definitely I'm a bit more tense than usual.
"Definitely I don't feel as relaxed but I try to have a good sleep tonight and focus on tomorrow."
Despite his condition, Antonelli was still able to produce a decent final lap in qualifying as he finished within two tenths of pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton.
However, the fact that his team-mate George Russell was only marginally behind Hamilton in second perhaps reflected the Italian not being able to summon his best level.
Antonelli added: "I struggled to get a good feeling from the tyres in Q3. I just didn't have the most confidence. I was a bit tense, I am not going to lie.
"It was a poor lap, many mistakes here and there. Overall, still P4 and a lot to play for tomorrow."
'It's insane!' - Norris happy to pass No 1 onto Antonelli
Lando Norris says he is "more than happy" to pass the number one he has had on his McLaren this year to Antonelli when the Mercedes driver replaces him as world champion.
Antonelli has massively exceeded expectations during just his second season in F1 to comprehensively outperform Russell, who began the year as the clear title favourite.
"He's done an incredible job and done it in a pretty incredible way," Norris said ahead of the race weekend in Mexico.
"People are saying he hasn't had any tough competition this year. That proves the point that he's done such an incredible job.
"He's got a very, very talented team-mate that he's beaten through the whole season.
"I have nothing but respect for Kimi. He's a very nice guy. We get along very well and I'm more than happy to pass the No 1 over to him.
"He deserves it. He's done an incredible job, especially in his second year in Formula 1. Youngest world champion, it's pretty insane.
"I enjoy other people having that kind of success. It's nice to see."
Sky Sports F1's live Mexico City GP schedule
Sunday November 1
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Mexico City GP build-up
8pm: THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX*
10pm: Chequered Flag: Mexico City GP reaction
11pm: Ted's Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Mexico City where Kimi Antonelli could win the Drivers' Championship in Sunday's race at 8pm (build-up from 6.30pm), live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
