Kimi Antonelli insisted "the mindset is always the same" ahead of a potential title-clinching weekend at the United States Grand Prix.

The 20-year-old is 102 points ahead of Mercedes team-mate George Russell, and could win his first Drivers' Championship if three permutations are met.

To win the title in Austin, Antonelli must win the race while seeing Russell finish ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton fifth or lower.

Mercedes have had at least one of their two drivers finish on the podium in each of the first 17 Grands Prix of 2026. Only Mercedes themselves in 2014 (19) and Ferrari in 2018 (18) have recorded longer streaks at the start of a season in Formula One history.

Despite edging closer to a career-defining moment, Antonelli is just focused on winning the race in Austin.

"I know it's very close, I know it's there, but I just need to make sure that I keep doing the best I can," said Antonelli.

"You know, the mindset is always the same: to go out there and win and perform the best way I can.

"I think [in Singapore] I didn't particularly drive that well. I felt like I could have done a better job, but I feel confident that, you know, a week to reset, and I'm really looking forward to being back in Austin.

"But, at the end of the day, if I don't do my job well, then the result won't come. So in order to achieve what I want, I need to perform, as simple as that."

New livery, same tradition  https://t.co/rQHML8bYfj

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) October 22, 2026

DRIVERS TO WATCH

Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes

Antonelli has secured 17 podium finishes in his F1 career, with 14 of them coming in 2026.

Among drivers who have never won the title, only Oscar Piastri (16 in 2025) and Valtteri Bottas (15 in 2019) have recorded more podium finishes in a single season in the championship (Rubens Barrichello also recorded 14 in 2004).

Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari

No driver has claimed more victories at the United States Grand Prix than Hamilton, with six. However, his last victory at this Grand Prix came in 2017, and he has also suffered a disqualification (2023) and a retirement (2024) in two of his last three appearances (fourth in 2025).

Hamilton has finished on the podium nine times at the Circuit of the Americas.

Should he do so again this weekend, it will become the 10th circuit at which he has recorded a top-three finish on at least 10 occasions, making him the first driver in F1 history to reach this milestone.

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Drivers'

1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 340

2. George Russell (Mercedes) – 238

3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 229

4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 221

5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 215

Constructors'

1. Mercedes – 578

2. Ferrari – 444

3. McLaren – 339

4. Red Bull – 332

5. Racing Bulls – 100