Antonelli title chance arrives at United States Grand Prix

Norris says Antonelli sits two levels above Russell

Lando Norris, the reigning champion Antonelli is poised to succeed, was direct about the gap inside the Mercedes garage. "I rate George and I think he's a very good driver, but Kimi has been two levels above George the whole season," Norris said.

Norris pointed at the mechanical story rather than the highlight reel: the absence of errors across qualifying and races, and the consistency of beating the same car on the other side of the garage. "Dealing with the pressure, the lack of mistakes that have come from him, in both qualifying and races, the consistency to beat his team-mate," he said.

He also flagged the size of the step from year one to year two. "For him to take quite a huge step from last year to this year, in terms of optimising things and understanding how to drive this year's car, more than other people as well."

Norris added that the wider paddock already sees it. "He's done a pretty incredible job and I'm sure the world knows that. I don't need to say it, I think it's obvious enough."

Hamilton's advice and the seat Mercedes gambled on

Mercedes made Antonelli the sport's third-youngest driver in history when it promoted him at 18 into the seat vacated by Hamilton for the 2025 season. Asked in Austin on Thursday whether he had advice for his successor, the seven-time champion opened with a joke: "Slow down!"

He then turned serious. "He doesn't need any advice. I think he's shown this year, and also last year, but particularly this year, his talent and his ability, his calmness and his approach," Hamilton said.

"He's done an amazing job this year, and I'm so proud of him. I'm so proud of the way he's carried himself, how he interacts with the drivers and even with you guys. It's great to see him and the team excel. If it's not my team, I'd always want to see my old team do well."

Antonelli keeps the countdown short

Antonelli was told the scenario and refused to hold it in his hands. "I mean, it definitely is crazy if you think about it, but that's why I won't think about it," he said. "I've heard that something catastrophic needs to happen to the others for me to become champion."

His framing is a weekend, not a season. "For me, it needs to be a perfect weekend. The others need to have a poor result, which is unlikely to happen. So, of course, anything can happen, and it's crazy to think about it."

He described the routine that keeps the noise out, including a Thursday meeting with race engineer Peter Bonnington. "We just said, 'Just have fun.' It's always the same mindset I've had all year: one race at a time. Just try to do the best I can every race weekend, and then we'll see. But, of course, if I do things well, then the result will come."

On what the title would mean, he was plain. "It would be a dream. It's something I've dreamt of since I was little. First of all, to find myself in such a position is incredible. But at the same time, I need to keep going, keep pushing, and it's not over yet. So first, we'll try to finish the job properly, and then we can enjoy the rest."

What the remaining six rounds decide

Austin is the earliest possible date, not the likely one. The three-way result Antonelli needs has not appeared in any race so far, and Russell and Hamilton remain the only drivers who can still stay in mathematical contention.

If the title does not fall on Sunday, the same question travels to the next five rounds with a shrinking points pool. The gap is 102. The car has held. The mistakes have not come.

The original report is from skysports.com.