Antonelli can clinch F1 title in Austin if rivals falter

Kimi Antonelli arrives at the United States Grand Prix in Austin with a chance to clinch the Formula 1 drivers’ championship, but the Mercedes driver says he will treat the weekend like any other race and focus on his performance. Antonelli leads teammate George Russell by 102 points. To secure the title in Austin, he must win Sunday’s race, Russell must finish ninth or lower, and Lewis Hamilton must finish fifth or lower. If those results occur, Antonelli would have an unassailable lead with five races remaining. Otherwise, the championship will remain undecided. The 20-year-old said he and race engineer Peter Bonnington had agreed to keep the same approach that had guided him through the season: enjoy racing, take one event at a time and do the best possible job. Antonelli said the title was a childhood dream, but added that he needed to keep pushing because the championship was not yet settled. His position follows a standout second season, in which he has recorded eight Grand Prix victories. The opportunity to become the youngest Formula 1 world champion has brought questions about the pressure of a possible early title, but Antonelli said he did not want to dwell on the...