Antonelli caught off guard by possible F1 title clinch at US GP
Conceptual AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph or evidence that a pictured event, meeting or transfer occurred. · 2026-10-11GPBeat newsroom · News Made Clear generated illustration
Button told Kimi Antonelli he could clinch the F1 drivers’ title at the next United States Grand Prix. Antonelli reacted with disbelief, then said he wanted to focus on producing the best possible weekend.
Jenson Button, the 2009 F1 champion, caught Kimi Antonelli off guard after the Singapore Grand Prix by telling him he could clinch the drivers’ title at the next United States Grand Prix.
“Can I? Really?” Antonelli replied. He then returned to the task ahead: “Let's not worry about that. Let's try and do the best weekend possible and finish the job.”
Antonelli had just secured a podium after 62 laps in Singapore, finishing 24.573 seconds behind Max Verstappen. His key moment came on lap 54: Lando Norris tried to pass Lewis Hamilton at Turn 1, both went wide, and Antonelli took the opening to move into third.
Antonelli now leads Mercedes team-mate George Russell by 102 points. Russell started 19th after a heavy engine penalty and finished ninth. The next Grand Prix is in two weeks at the Circuit of the Americas.
Sources 01
- SOURCEKimi Antonelli caught off-guard by Jenson Button F1 title commentRacingNews365 English
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