Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli has missed media day at the Mexico City Grand Prix with a viral illness, days before he can wrap up his first world title.
Mercedes said Antonelli had been excused from his Thursday media duties by the FIA “as a precaution to give him the chance to rest ahead of the weekend”, BBC Sport reported.
“We expect him to be back tomorrow,” a Mercedes spokesperson said, according to the BBC.
RaceFans also reported that Antonelli would miss Thursday’s media day because of a “viral illness”.
What Antonelli needs in Mexico
The 20-year-old Italian leads Mercedes team-mate George Russell by 123 points and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by 124 after winning the United States Grand Prix, Sky Sports reported.
Russell and Hamilton are the only drivers who can still mathematically stop him. Antonelli will be champion if he finishes ninth or better, or if neither Russell nor Hamilton wins the race, according to Sky Sports.
The BBC reported that he would become the youngest world champion in F1 history.
Read more: Kimi Antonelli Wins US Grand Prix but F1 Title Wait Goes to Mexico
Bottas also unwell
Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas also missed media day after his team said he was “unwell”, the BBC reported.
“This is a precautionary measure and does not currently affect his participation in the remainder of the race weekend,” a Cadillac spokesperson said.
When to watch
First practice starts at 5.30am AEDT on Saturday, 31 October, and the Mexico City Grand Prix starts at 7am AEDT on Monday, 2 November.
After Mexico, four races remain: Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
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