Kimi Antonelli can become Formula One's youngest world champion at the US Grand Prix, but drivers are warning the bumpy Austin circuit is a health risk.
Kimi Antonelli arrives at the Circuit of the Americas with the Formula One world championship within touching distance. If the Mercedes driver seals the title in Austin on Sunday, he becomes the youngest champion in the sport's history.
At 20, Antonelli would break the record Sebastian Vettel set in 2010, when the German won his first crown aged 23. Antonelli was only four years old back then. The Italian says he is heading into the weekend with one goal: to enjoy himself and let the result take care of itself.
The build-up has been overshadowed by a growing row over the track surface. Several drivers say the Texas circuit is so bumpy that it is physically punishing, and they are worried about the long-term toll on their bodies. Max Verstappen said the bumps make drivers "suffer", and others have gone further, calling the conditions unacceptable.
That sets up an unusual weekend in Austin. A young talent could rewrite the record books, while the paddock argues about whether the circuit is fit for the world's fastest cars. Both stories will stay in focus until the chequered flag falls.
