Antonelli’s title bid halted by red flag at Mexico GP

Kimi Antonelli’s bid to become the youngest ever Formula One world champion was put on hold on Sunday when the Mexico Grand Prix was suspended after a crash involving Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas.

The Finn’s suspension on the front left side had collapsed causing his wheel to buckle and making him a helpless passenger as his car flew backwards off the track and slammed into the barriers.

The 37-year-old Bottas was slow to emerge from his car but waved to the crowd as he walked away, with all the other cars returning to the pits to await a restart.

Antonelli, who needs just to finish in the top nine to seal the title, was running third in his Mercedes when the race was stopped behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.

At 20 years and 68 days, Antonelli is in line to become the youngest ever world champion, more than three years junior to Sebastian Vettel in 2010, and the first Italian champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953.