Kimi Antonelli caught off-guard by Jenson Button F1 title comment

Kimi Antonelli was left stunned after being informed by Jenson Button he could become F1 drivers' champion at the next race in Austin.

Antonelli netted a podium at the end of 62 punishing laps of the Singapore Grand Prix, finishing 17 seconds behind four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

With Mercedes team-mate George Russell rising to ninth, after starting 19th after taking a heavy engine penalty, Antonelli now holds a 102-point cushion over the Briton going into the United States Grand Prix in a fortnight's time.

It means Antonelli could conceivably become champion at the Circuit of the Americas given their are a possible 150 points at stake should F1 go ahead with its plan to race in the final two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Button, the 2009 F1 champion, informed Antonelli he could clinch the title at the next race.

There was a look of disbelief on Antonelli's face before he replied: "Can I? Really?", before adding: "Let's not worry about that. Let's try and do the best weekend possible and finish the job."

In what he described as "a very tough race", Antonelli's key moment occurred on lap 54 when he was running fifth directly behind Lewis Hamilton in his Ferrari on age-old soft tyres, and the McLaren of Lando Norris.

At the start of the lap, Norris attempted a move on Hamilton into Turn 1, forcing both to run wide and allowing Antonelli through to steal third.

"Really happy with the podium at the end," said Antonelli. "I managed to take advantage of the fight between Lando and Lewis and make a move on both.

"To bring home P3 is a great result for the team. Yeah, very happy with that."