But while the young Italian approaches the race intending simply to have fun, there is disquiet among other drivers about the potential long-term health dangers posed by the state of the Texas circuit.
asserted
Italian → approach → circuit
The 20-year-old Antonelli will become Formula One’s youngest world champion if he claims the title at the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday, eclipsing Sebastian Vettel’s record from 2010, when the German driver was 23 and Antonelli was four.
uncertain
Antonelli → become → 2010
It is an outside chance as the Italian has acknowledged.
asserted
Italian → acknowledge → ?
He must win while needing his rivals to endure a poor day.
asserted
rivals → win → day
His Mercedes teammate, George Russell, would have to finish outside the top eight and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton outside the top four.
asserted
teammate → have → four
Nonetheless, while Antonelli knows the title race is effectively over, he is keeping the cool head that has brought him to this point with such alacrity.
asserted
that → know → alacrity
The Mercedes ship, helmed by his race engineer Pete Bonnington, who was alongside Hamilton for his six titles with the team, is steady as she goes.
asserted
she → helm → team
“We had a meeting with Bono [Bonnington] this morning and we said: ‘Just have fun’,” Antonelli said.
asserted
Antonelli → have → fun
“It’s the same mindset I’ve had all year.
asserted
I → ’ → ?
Just try to do the best I can every race weekend, and then we’ll see.”
asserted
we → try → best
After a tricky rookie season last year, Antonelli has adapted remarkably quickly to competing at the front of the grid.
asserted
Antonelli → adapt → grid
But as he looks to close it out, he feels able to draw on previous experience.
asserted
he → look → experience
“Formula One is different because the pressure is a lot bigger than in anything else,” he added.
asserted
he → add → anything
“The competition is a little bit higher as well because you’re racing with 21 of the best drivers in the world.
asserted
you → race → world
But when you fight for championships in karting and junior series, the mindset is very similar in the way you approach races and the way you think.”
asserted
you → fight → races
Going into the weekend, however, the circuit has drawn unusually severe criticism from drivers.
asserted
circuit → go → drivers
The race was first held in Austin in 2012 and has a contract until 2034.
asserted
race → hold → 2034
It has become hugely popular, with sold-out crowds, but the track has come under intense scrutiny.
asserted
track → become → scrutiny
Built on marshland, the bumps caused by the ground beneath the tarmac have been condemned in Austin as potentially harmful, with the uneven surface forcing impacts into the base of the drivers’ spines.
“The bumps are unacceptable.
asserted
bumps → build → spines
Over time they’ve been grinding a little bit here and there but it’s just putting a plaster on the big problem,” said Max Verstappen of Red Bull.
asserted
Verstappen → grind → Bull
“You need to really fully open up the track.
asserted
You → need → track
That costs a lot of money and time but that’s the only way to get rid of it because these bumps are not natural and they are out of control.
asserted
they → cost → control
“From the checks that I’ve done from my spine, the bottom end doesn’t look that great.
asserted
end → do → spine
I know that’s part of racing.
asserted
that → know → racing
I know that can be part of sport but it’s also further damage from the cars that we had the last few years.
asserted
we → know → that
If we continue with finding this acceptable to drive on, then you are going to suffer with that much more.”
asserted
you → continue → that
Verstappen’s opinion was echoed by the defending world champion, Lando Norris, who is frustrated that drivers’ concerns are not being listened to.
asserted
concerns → echo → champion
“It’s pretty bad.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
There’s a lot of places I need to take headache tablets before I go out simply because it’s so bumpy and you’re hitting your head pretty hard against the headrest because of the bumps.
asserted
you → ’ → bumps
So it’s certainly not a nice thing,” Norris said.
asserted
Norris → ’ → ?
“There’s not much we can do.
asserted
we → ’ → ?
I mean, we complain about it, it’s stuff we’ve brought up many, many times but there’s only so much we can complain about things.”
asserted
we → mean → things
The Aporia
