Kimi Antonelli will not attend Formula 1's Mexico Grand Prix media day on Thursday due to a viral illness. The Mercedes championship leader is "feeling under the weather," though the team expects him to return tomorrow. The FIA has excused him from today's activities. Antonelli is on the brink of winning his maiden F1 title, which would make him the youngest world champion, beating Sebastian Vettel's 2010 record by over three years. All he needs on Sunday is ninth place, or for George Russell or Lewis Hamilton not to win.
Valtteri Bottas also skipped media day for Cadillac, cited as unwell. His team called it a precautionary measure for rest, stating it does not currently affect his participation in the race weekend. At Mercedes, reserve driver Frederik Vesti is scheduled for a Free Practice 1 outing in George Russell's car. At Cadillac, Zhou Guanyu serves as the reserve driver, ready for an F1 return after his Sauber stint.
The situation highlights the physical demands on title contenders. While illness threatens Antonelli's championship bid, his lead is substantial. The team's cautious approach with both drivers suggests a focus on long-term health over immediate media obligations.
Source: Autosport F1 News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing