Kimi Antonelli expressed his excitement and ambition to win his first Formula One world championship after securing third place at the Singapore Grand Prix. This result positions him to potentially clinch the title at the upcoming race in Austin.

Max Verstappen dominated the race at the Marina Bay circuit, but Antonelli's podium finish means he could become F1's youngest champion at just 20 years old. He currently leads his Mercedes teammate, George Russell, by 102 points and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton by 111 points. With six races left and 25 points awarded for each win, Antonelli can claim the championship if he wins in Austin, provided Russell finishes ninth or lower and Hamilton finishes fifth or lower.

When asked about his championship dreams, Antonelli smiled and said, "For sure. 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." He acknowledged that while Mercedes struggled against Red Bull in Singapore, he remains optimistic about performing better in Texas.

Reflecting on his performance, Antonelli stated, "This weekend I haven’t particularly driven that well. I felt like I could have done a better job but I feel confident that a week to reset will help."

Meanwhile, Hamilton finished sixth and took responsibility for a costly decision not to pit during a virtual safety car period. He apologized to his team, admitting, "A painful lesson today but I take full responsibility for the decisions I made."

Ferrari's team principal, Fred Vasseur, defended the team, clarifying that the decision to pit was made correctly, stating, "Don’t blame the team." Hamilton's misjudgment left him vulnerable on worn tires, costing valuable points in the championship race.