In F1, drivers win points for good results in races. After the last race of the season, the driver with the most points becomes champion. If one driver has a big lead, his rivals may not be able to catch up. Then the championship is out of reach for them.
Antonelli also showed a simple side. He said that even now, he washes his car by hand himself. This is a down-to-earth habit for a driver who is so close to a title.
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes could clinch the drivers' championship this weekend at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, bringing a tense title fight to an end. The result would depend on what happens on the track over the coming days.
Antonelli arrives in Austin with a lead of 102 points over his teammate, George Russell, who also races for Mercedes. That advantage is what has put the title within his reach this weekend.
Under the F1 system, drivers collect points for strong finishes in each race, and whoever has the most at the end of the season is crowned champion. When one driver builds a big enough lead, his rivals can no longer catch up, and the championship is effectivelyout of reach for everyone else.
Away from the title fight, Antonelli has also shown a down-to-earth side. He said that even now, he washes his car himself by hand, a surprisingly ordinary chore for a driver who is so close to a world title.