Formula One driver Kimi Antonelli stands on the brink of capturing the world championship this weekend at the US Grand Prix in Austin. The twenty-year-old Mercedes youngster could secure the title on Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas. This would make him the youngest champion in the history of the sport. Sebastian Vettel currently holds that record, having won his first title at twenty-three in 2010.
Antonelli approaches the race with a relaxed attitude despite the massive milestone within his grasp. He must win the race while his rivals suffer a poor finish. His teammate George Russell must place outside the top eight, and Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton must finish outside the top four.
Antonelli spoke to reporters about his approach to the weekend. We had a meeting with Bono this morning and we said, Just have fun, Antonelli said. It is the same mindset I have had all year. One race at a time. Just try to do the best I can every race weekend, and then we will see.
The Italian driver has adapted swiftly to competing at the front of the grid after a difficult rookie season last year. He said that the pressure in Formula One is much higher than in other categories, competing against twenty-one of the best drivers in the world. He believes the mental approach stays similar to his days fighting for championships in karting and junior series.
While Antonelli focuses on his historic chance, the Austin circuit has faced sharp criticism from other drivers over its rough surface. The venue has hosted races since 2012 and holds a contract running until 2034, drawing massive sold-out crowds. Built on marshland, the track suffers from severe bumps caused by the unstable ground underneath the tarmac.
Drivers warned that the uneven surface creates harmful impacts that travel directly into the base of their spines. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen described the state of the track as unacceptable. The bumps are unacceptable, Verstappen said. Over time they have been grinding a little bit here and there, but it is just putting a plaster on the big problem.
Verstappen explained that circuit organizers need to fully open up the track to fix the issue permanently. He added that medical checks on his own spine show negative effects from the impacts. From the checks that I have done from my spine, the bottom end doesn’t look that great, he said. I know that can be part of sport, but it is also heavy damage from the cars that we had the last few years.
Defending world champion Lando Norris shared similar frustrations, stating that drivers feel ignored by the authorities. Norris admitted that the conditions cause physical pain during race weekends. It is pretty bad, Norris said. There are a lot of places I need to take headache tablets before I go out simply because it is so bumpy and you are hitting your head pretty hard against the headrest because of the bumps.
