Kimi Antonelli has revealed that he hopes to secure his maiden Formula 1 world championship within the next two weeks. The Mercedes driver made the admission during a visit to the San Antonio Spurs, where he met NBA star Victor Wembanyama ahead of the United States Grand Prix.
The Italian travelled to San Antonio before heading to Austin for this weekend's race, taking the opportunity to meet several members of the NBA franchise. During a conversation with Wembanyama, Antonelli was asked about his Formula 1 season and how close he was to becoming world champion.
"I'm fighting for the championship. We're pretty close. Hopefully, in a couple of weeks, we can secure it. We'll see," Antonelli told the French basketball player in a video shared by the Spurs.
The comments come at a crucial stage of the championship, with Antonelli leading the standings and approaching his first opportunity to mathematically secure the title. The Mercedes driver could become world champion as early as Sunday's United States Grand Prix, although doing so would require a particularly favourable combination of results.
Antonelli would need to win in Austin, with teammate George Russell finishing no higher than ninth and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton outside the top four. Should those conditions not be met, the championship battle will continue at the Mexican Grand Prix on 1 November.
Antonelli meets NBA stars ahead of Austin
Beyond discussing his championship ambitions, Antonelli spent time with several Spurs players during their preparations for the new NBA season.
His meeting with Wembanyama attracted particular attention because of the considerable height difference between the two athletes. The French basketball star stands at 2.26 metres, more than half a metre taller than the Mercedes driver.
Antonelli also spoke with other members of the team, including Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, who were interested in learning more about Formula 1. Among their questions was how fast the cars can travel, giving the Italian an opportunity to explain some of the differences between the two sports.
The Mercedes driver also indicated that he planned to attend the Spurs' season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder before returning his attention to Formula 1. With the United States Grand Prix taking place on Sunday, Antonelli will now turn his focus back to the championship battle, knowing that his first opportunity to secure the title is just days away.