Kimi Antonelli and Valtteri Bottas miss Mexico GP media day due to illness
Kimi Antonelli will miss the Mexico City Grand Prix media day due to illness.
- Antonelli is on the verge of clinching his first world title in F1.
- Valtteri Bottas is also absent from media day due to illness.
- Antonelli's absence is due to a viral infection, as confirmed by multiple sources.
Kimi Antonelli and Valtteri Bottas both missed the Formula 1 media day at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Thursday after falling ill. Mercedes confirmed that Antonelli, who is on the verge of securing his first world championship, is recovering from a viral infection. The FIA excused him from mandatory media duties as a precaution to allow him to rest ahead of the race weekend. Mercedes expects Antonelli to return to track activities on Friday.
Antonelli’s absence comes as he approaches a historic milestone. The 20-year-old Italian stands to become the youngest F1 world champion in history, surpassing Sebastian Vettel’s record from 2010 by over three years. He needs only a ninth-place finish on Sunday, or for neither George Russell nor Lewis Hamilton to win, to clinch the title at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. If either Russell or Hamilton wins, Antonelli would still secure the championship by finishing ninth or tenth respectively.
Cadillac also confirmed that Bottas was unwell and unable to attend media day. The team took the decision to give the Finnish driver a day of rest to support his recovery. Cadillac emphasized that this was a precautionary measure and does not currently affect Bottas’ participation for the rest of the weekend. The team will continue to monitor his condition and provide updates if necessary.
Both drivers are expected to return to on-track sessions on Friday, with practice scheduled to begin in the evening. While unlikely, there remains a remote possibility that reserve drivers could be called upon if either Antonelli or Bottas is unable to race. Mercedes’ reserve is Frederik Vesti, who is slated for a Free Practice 1 outing this weekend in George Russell’s car. Cadillac’s reserve driver is Zhou Guanyu, who would make an F1 return after finishing his stint with Alfa Romeo at the end of 2024.
Antonelli’s illness adds an unexpected twist to a weekend that could see the young Italian crowned champion in front of an enthusiastic Mexican crowd. The FIA’s decision to excuse him from media duties reflects the priority on his health and readiness for the decisive race. Fans and teams will be watching closely to see how both drivers recover as the championship battle reaches its climax.
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