Mercedes diagnose possible cause of strange Kimi Antonelli Singapore leak

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says the strange "leak" Kimi Antonelli felt in the Singapore Grand Prix was likely from his drinks bottle. 

During the Marina Bay race in which he finished third, Antonelli reported to engineer Peter Bonnington that he could feel something was leaking around his legs in the cockpit.

However, the issue did not seriously affect the Italian whose third place now means he can win the title next time out in the United States. 

When asked about the leak, Wolff explained that it was likely from the drinks bottle aboard the W17. 

"The liquid we don't know [what it was]," Wolff told media, including RacingNews365. 

"We suspect it was the drinks bottle that went, or he had a leak, but he should have known if that was the case. 

"And the other thing is that he had heat soak in the brakes, and I think it was after the pit-stop, and that is why the pedal went long and then recovered immediately after he got more air cooling it again."

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Wolff on Antonelli's title chances

As it stands, there are six races remaining in the season, with F1 signalling its intent to race in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, despite the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Over the Singapore weekend, Houthi rebels have launched a series of attacks on Riyadh airport in Saudi Arabia, with dozens killed and hundreds others injured. 

With this relative unknown, it is possible that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races are called off, with a decision due imminently by mid-October, with Imola then set to deputise for Abu Dhabi.

If Antonelli wins in Austin, and George Russell is ninth or lower, the Italian will be world champion, but Wolff isn't looking at the maths, just yet.

"I haven't looked at it from that perspective, because the moment I have the thought of 'how many points is it and when could he win it?', I have to remind myself that this is motor racing, and crazy things have happened.

"Mathematically, I haven't looked at the points, but it probably needs George and Lewis to retire and him winning, so this is not a likely scenario, but the aim is to score points and not lose too many on the others.

"Like today, gaining on Lewis was unexpected, and it is going to come towards him, whether that is in Mexico or Brazil or further down the line, we shall see.

"I guess whether Qatar and Abu Dhabi happen at the moment, everybody says so, and you need to go in the direction of six more races to go and not four."