Hamilton jokes with Antonelli as Mercedes driver nears Formula 1 title

Kimi Antonelli received a joking ‘Slow down!’ from Lewis Hamilton at a US Grand Prix press conference in Austin, Texas, on October 22, as the Mercedes driver approached a possible first Formula 1 title. Reuters reported that Antonelli led the championship by 102 points, although clinching it at Sunday's race would require him to win and other results to go his way.

Hamilton, the seven-time champion who now drives for Ferrari, made clear that his advice was a joke. Antonelli, 20, took Hamilton's place at Mercedes last season. Hamilton said the younger driver needed no advice and praised his talent, calmness and approach to racing.

What Antonelli needs to clinch the title in Austin

A maximum of 150 points remained available at the time of the press conference. Even with his 102-point lead, Antonelli could become champion in Austin only if he won the US Grand Prix and his rivals' results also favoured him. The Formula 1 standings record listed him first on 340 points after 17 completed rounds, including the Singapore Grand Prix on October 11.

Antonelli played down the prospect of settling the championship on Sunday. ‘For me, it needs to be a perfect weekend. The others need to have a poor result, which is unlikely to happen,’ he said, according to Reuters. He said he was taking the races one at a time, despite knowing what a title would mean.

If Antonelli wins the championship, he would become Formula 1's youngest champion and the first Italian to take the title since Alberto Ascari in 1953, Reuters reported. Antonelli said following Hamilton as both a Mercedes driver and a champion would be a dream, but he was prepared to wait. His aim, he said, was to keep trying to win races whether the title came in Austin, at the following race or in Brazil.