Antonelli ready for final push to become F1's youngest champion

MEXICO CITY, Oct 28 : Kimi Antonelli did not get to swig real champagne on the podium after he won in Texas last weekend, the 20-year-old Mercedes driver still too young for local drinking laws, but Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix could be quite some shindig.

Antonelli, as even those living in the remotest valleys and islands of Italy must surely be aware by now, can become Formula One's youngest champion at the sprawling high-altitude capital's Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as well as the first Italian to take the crown since 1953. 

Now 123 points clear at the top and winner of half the 18 races this season, Antonelli needs only finish in the top nine and it's job done. If teammate George Russell or Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton fail to win, it will be the same outcome.

Mercedes team boss and co-owner Toto Wolff agreed it was 99.9 per cent sure but Antonelli, who sprayed non-alcoholic fizz from an unbranded bottle in Austin, still needed to finish the job.

"It's either going to be a big tequila party or, if it's not a tequila party, then it's going to be caipirinha the weekend afterwards," Wolff said, with Brazil following on from Mexico.  

FINISH WITH A FLOURISH

Antonelli, whose boyish enthusiasm and enjoyment of racing have been very apparent since he took the championship lead in the third round of the season in Japan, naturally plans to wrap up the title with a flourish.

"I'm going to approach it with the same mindset, just trying to have as much fun as possible, trying to hopefully fight for another win," he said.

"It would be best to finish on a high, and that's the goal."

Mexico celebrates Day of the Dead on the same weekend, with a giant party in town even without Formula One's arrival.  

Mercedes could also clinch the