Kimi Antonelli stands on the brink of history at the United States Grand Prix, where a stellar weekend could crown him the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history. Far from feeling the pressure, the driver told BBC Sport that he is enjoying himself more than usual.

On Saturday at the Circuit of the Americas, Antonelli delivered a performance to take a surprise pole position by 0.179 seconds ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, according to BBC Sport.

According to BBC Sport, Antonelli will become world champion on Sunday if he wins the race, provided his Mercedes team-mate George Russell is lower than eighth and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton is below fourth.

According to BBC Sport, Antonelli had not been on pole since the Belgian Grand Prix in July. His delight was clear as he whooped over the team radio on his slowing down lap.

Coming into the weekend, Antonelli insisted he was going to try to apply the same mindset as he had all year - one race at a time. However, he acknowledged to BBC Sport that this one was a new kind of weekend.

"It does feel a little bit different," Antonelli told BBC Sport. "But the goal stays the same. I just need to keep doing my job. And, actually, I feel like I can enjoy more driving, everything. But, of course, we're going to do the race tomorrow. We're going to try and win. And then we'll see what happens. Obviously, I'm in a very good position."

Antonelli is typically accompanied by his father, Marco, at grands prix, but BBC Sport noted that he said this weekend he had brought other people with him as well to help keep him in the right frame of mind.

"I have a great group of people around me," Antonelli told BBC Sport, adding that they play cards in the evening to relax and connect with the mind before returning to full focus on the track.

Background

According to BBC Sport, Antonelli is aiming to become the first Italian F1 world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953. His path includes securing his seventh pole of the campaign, supported by a significant lead in the standings.

Mathematical calculations suggest the most likely scenario is that Antonelli will not win the title on Sunday, with the driver noting on Thursday that it would require something catastrophic to happen to the others, though his commanding position places him close to the milestone.

Why it matters

For sports enthusiasts and motorsport fans, witnessing the emergence of a potentially record-breaking young champion highlights elite athletic competition on the global stage.