Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
If Kimi Antonelli was still feeling the effects of an illness that kept him from a media session, it certainly didn’t show on the track.
The 20-year-old Mercedes driver, who is aiming to become the youngest champion in Formula 1 history this weekend, finished second and fourth in the two free practice sessions for the Mexico City Grand Prix on Friday (Saturday AEDT).
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped both sessions to show continued strong form, having finished third in the past two races.
Antonelli, who has the Formula 1 title well within his grasp, missed a media session on Thursday due to a viral infection. But he looked good in his first shot at the Mexico City Hermanos Rodríguez race track.
Frederik Vesti, who is the reserve drive for Mercedes, finished third early on. For the second free practice session, it was George Russell who drove, finishing in third place behind Leclerc and the reigning champion, Lando Norris.
To secure the title and break the record set by Sebastian Vettel — the youngest champion to date at 23 in 2010 — Antonelli can finish as low as ninth on Sunday.
Antonelli wants to seal the deal with another big result, but he could also do it without scoring another point if someone other than Lewis Hamilton or George Russell wins Sunday’s race.
“I’m very excited. I would love to clinch the title in style with a great result,” Antonelli said after taking his ninth win of the season in Texas last week.
“That’s the mindset. That’s always the mindset, and that’s what it will be from now until the end of the season. I’m just going to try to enjoy every moment because they’re moments that will always be remembered.”
Antonelli can also become the first Italian driver to win the title since Alberto Ascari in 1953. Mercedes can clinch the constructors’ title on Sunday for the first time since 2021 — though that would need a big points haul for Antonelli and Russell, combined with a disastrous race for second-placed Ferrari.
Hamilton finished fourth in the first practice session, and it looked like it might be a good day for the the seven-time world champion. However, he reported a loss of power roughly halfway through the second session.
“Something is wrong with the car,” Hamilton said over the radio. “I lost all power at turn 13.”
Ferrari team officials told him to pull off the track and bring his car to a stop.
The 2,240-metre altitude above sea level in Mexico City will pose a challenge for participants in the Mexico City Grand Prix. According to Mercedes’ George Russell, the Ferrari team could have an advantage.
At this altitude, thin air starves the engines of oxygen—resulting in a loss of power—and makes it more difficult to prevent vehicle components, such as the brakes, from overheating.
“It’s going to be very interesting,” Russell said. “I think turbo lag is going to be a major factor for many teams this weekend. It’s no secret that teams like Ferrari use a smaller turbo than most, so they likely have a significant advantage in this regard.”
