Antonelli can be the youngest champion in the world on Sunday

O the Italian Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) can become on Sunday at the United States Grand Prix, the youngest world Formula One champion, at the age of 20 and two months, if he wins and benefits from the results of the opponents.

When the transalpine pilot was born, on August 25, 2006, Formula 1 dominated Renault and the Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who in the previous year ended an era of five consecutive German titles Michael Schumacher with Ferrari.

Now, 20 years later, Antonelli has the first chance to win the title in Austin, where he will be able to surpass for more than three years the record of German champion Sebastian Vettel in 2010, aged 23, four months and 11 days.

In his second season in Formula 1, Antonelli reached the 18th round with 340 points, more 102 than British teammate George Russell and 111 than British teammate Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari).

To celebrate already in the Circuit of the Americas, the Italian must win, adding 25 points, and hope that Russell ends in ninth or lower position and Hamilton does not do better than fifth.

These results would allow Antonelli to reach 365 points and leave the United States with an advantage of at least 125 over all opponents, when there will be five major prizes left, up to 125 points, and when eventual punctual equality at the end of the championship would favor him for the number of wins.

So Antonelli can celebrate, Russell, which amounts to 238 points, can't go beyond the ninth place, making at most two points in Austin.

Hamilton, championship third with 229 points, will have to finish in fifth, position worth 10 points, or further back. A fourth place would give him 12 points and leave him to Antonelli's 124, postponing the decision for one more test.

The Dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull), fourth, with 221 points, cannot prevent the winning of the title if Antonelli wins, even if it ends in second. In this scenario, I would get 239 points, 126 from the Italian.

The same is true of Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), fifth with 215 points, and British Lando Norris (McLaren), sixth with 201, who are unable to fight for the title in case of Antonelli's victory in this race.

Mercedes' Italian strengthened the leadership by finishing third in Singapore, where Russell was ninth, and now seeks to join the world title to the eight victories already won this season.

If you do not meet the necessary conditions in Austin, you will continue to have the tests from Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi to confirm the championship, if there are no changes to the calendar due to instability in the Middle East.

The United States Grand Prix is held from Friday to Sunday, without sprinting, with 25 points available for the winner of the main race.

Fernando Alonso, who became two world champions in the year Antonelli was born, integrates the starting grid, to the commands of an Aston Martin.

The 10 youngest pilots to win the first world title:

1. Sebastian Vettel (Germany), 2010 – 23 years, four months and 11 days.

2. Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain), 2008 – 23 years, nine months and 26 days.

3. Fernando Alonso (Spain), 2005 – 24 years, one month and 27 days.

4. Max Verstappen (Netherlands), 2021 – 24 years, two months and 12 days.

5. Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil), 1972 – 25 years, eight months and 29 days.

6. Michael Schumacher (Germany), 1994 – 25 years, 10 months and 10 days.

7. Lando Norris (Great Britain), 2025 – 26 years and 24 days.

8. Niki Lauda (Austria), 1975 – 26 years, six months and 16 days.

9. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada), 1997 – 26 years, six months and 17 days.

10. Jim Clark (Great Britain), 1963 – 27 years, six months and four days.