Podcast: Why Kimi Antonelli looked destined to be F1 champion years ago

Kimi Antonelli has his first chance to claim this year’s Formula 1 title in Austin this weekend and become the youngest-ever world champion in history – by some margin.

It’s an extraordinary story for a driver who began his second grand prix season as a teenager but, as Mark Hughes tells Bryn Lucas, it was entirely predictable: Antonelli looked destined to be a megastar before he even arrived in F1.

We look at what made him so obviously special from a young age, and what his chances are of winning at Circuit of the Americas against a resurgent Red Bull and ever-threatening Ferrari.

Antonelli needs a victory (and lowly finishes for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell) to claim the title in Austin, but if he doesn’t manage to clinch it on Sunday, the 20-year-old has such a lead in the title race that it’s only a matter of time before he’s crowned.

Mark also considers Haas‘s signing of Rafael Camara and gives his view on the highlights of Christian Horner‘s autobiography: what does it tell us and is it worth buying?

Plus: your questions answered on McLaren‘s Singapore clash; the upsides of 2026 power units; and whether Racing Bulls is allowed to be faster than Red Bull.

We’ll feature more listener questions next week. Don’t forget to post yours below.

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