Kimi Antonelli will miss Thursday's media day at the Mexico City Grand Prix due to a viral illness. The 20-year-old is recovering ahead of Sunday's race, where a top-nine finish will likely crown him Formula 1 world champion - breaking Sebastian Vettel's record by three years. Mercedes confirmed Antonelli was excused from mandatory media duties as a precaution.
Antonelli has delivered a superb 2026 season in just his second F1 campaign, winning nine races and consistently outperforming team-mate George Russell. He aims to finish the season 'on a high' and set positive momentum for 2027. Valtteri Bottas will also miss media day due to illness, with Cadillac confirming it's a precaution and does not currently affect his race weekend participation.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing