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F1·BREAKING·October 31, 2026 08:18 PM ET

Antonelli qualifies fifth in Mexico City, says title nerves have him driving 'tense' and 'tired'

Mercedes team-mate Russell qualified second behind Hamilton

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 57m1 min read
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Photo via @autosport on X

What happened: Kimi Antonelli qualified fifth for the Mexico City Grand Prix, behind Mercedes team-mate George Russell, who starts second. Antonelli says F1 title nerves led him to drive with unwanted tension, and he is hoping a good night's rest helps.

Why it matters: Earlier in the day Antonelli was 0.001s slower than Lando Norris's FP3 best, so the session fell short of his practice pace. He arrived in Mexico City with a chance to seal the youngest F1 title.

By the numbers: Mexico City GP top five on the grid: 1. Lewis Hamilton, 2. George Russell, 3. Charles Leclerc, 4. Max Verstappen, 5. Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli finished 0.001s behind Norris in FP3.

What to watch: Antonelli starts the race from the third row, with Leclerc and Verstappen ahead of him on the grid.

Sources

  • @autosport 

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