Antonelli says a closer Verstappen would make the title fight daunting

Asked by Sky Sports after the Singapore Grand Prix about Max Verstappen, Kimi Antonelli said it would be “really, really scary” if Verstappen were closer in the championship standings. Antonelli finished third; Verstappen took his second win in a row.

Antonelli said he saw an opportunity after Turn 1 because Lewis Hamilton was struggling. He passed Lando Norris first, a move he described as crucial, before getting past Hamilton.

With six races remaining, Antonelli held a 102-point lead over George Russell. He said Mercedes had been there throughout the season and had had a great car, but was now trying to get to grips with its new package. Antonelli said he was proud of the team for working through its problems in Singapore and beginning to see signs of progress. He hoped Mercedes could make further adjustments in Austin and understand the package better.