Mercedes can add F1 constructors' title to Antonelli's crown

Nov 4 : Kimi Antonelli is basking in the afterglow of becoming Formula One's youngest world champion but his Mercedes team still have a constructors' title to win and they can do it in Sao Paulo this weekend.

The 20-year-old Italian and teammate George Russell have put Mercedes 126 points clear of Ferrari with four races to go, meaning Mercedes will be champions for the first time since 2021 if they can stretch their advantage by four points at Interlagos on Sunday.

"I'm just trying to gather my energies and focus, trying to give everything for these last races because we have still got to win the constructors' championship, and I want to try to finish very well," Antonelli, who clinched the title in Mexico last Sunday, told Reuters Television.

Four points more than Ferrari may sound easily achievable for the winners of 12 of 19 races but Ferrari have outscored Mercedes in the last four outings, despite shooting themselves in the foot in Mexico last weekend.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton's first pole since 2023 could have been converted into a one-two win had he and teammate Charles Leclerc not clashed on the opening lap and opened the door to Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who won.

Leclerc will avoid immediate follow-up questions after he and wife Alexandra announced the birth on Tuesday of daughter Bianca. The Monegasque will miss Thursday's media day with Ferrari junior Dino Beganovic also replacing him in Friday's first practice.

VERSTAPPEN HAS THE MOMENTUM

Hamilton will be celebrating his 400th start at a circuit where, like Verstappen, he has won three times.

Both are on form, with four-time champion Verstappen winning three of the last four races - two from pole position - to catapult himself to second overall.

Braz