Mercedes has revealed that newly crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli was just “on the edge of retirement” in the closing laps of the Mexico City Grand Prix, making his title-sealing drive even more dramatic than previously thought.
Oil Leak Almost Ended Antonelli’s Race—and Title Hopes
Antonelli, who claimed his first Formula 1 world title by finishing third behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, developed an oil leak in his W17 with just a handful of laps to go. Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord shared on the High Performance Racing podcast:
“We got the car back after the race, took the floor off the bottom, covered in oil… Sump cracked and Kimi said he thinks about four laps from the end he could start to feel the engine just starting to struggle. So right on the edge of retirement of that race and yet it held together.”
Battling Illness and Emotions
The race weekend itself was already challenging for Antonelli, who was battling a viral illness and missed media day. He admitted that qualifying did not go according to plan, making the final result all the more emotional:
“On the last lap I just backed off because I just couldn’t see the track. I was getting emotional… Already the lap before, I think I lost probably two seconds because I was already crying. I couldn’t see clearly ahead… A lot of memories went through my mind in that moment.”
Sealing the Title in Style
Despite the drama, Antonelli succeeded in becoming the youngest F1 world champion ever, delivering a “very special final lap” that capped off a season of remarkable growth. Now, with the title in hand, he looks to enjoy the closing races of the season—with the pressure off and the celebrations just beginning.
