Kimi Antonelli will miss the Mexico Grand Prix on Thursday due to feeling unwell, according to the Mercedes team.
A representative for the Anglo-German team informed the press that the championship frontrunner was “feeling unwell” as a result of a “viral illness” he has been recuperating from, prompting the FIA to excuse him from the media events scheduled for today.
“We anticipate his return tomorrow,” the statement added.
Antonelli stands on the verge of claiming his first F1 title, which would make him the youngest world champion, surpassing Sebastian Vettel’s 2010 record by over three years. On Sunday, he needs just a ninth-place finish or for neither George Russell nor Lewis Hamilton to secure a victory.
The 20-year-old Italian won’t be alone in skipping media day; Valtteri Bottas has also reported being unwell, with Cadillac communicating to the media that the Finnish driver is “unwell”.
“The team has decided to give him a day off to aid in his recovery,” the statement indicated.
“This is a precautionary step and does not currently impact his participation for the rest of the race weekend. We will keep an eye on the situation and will provide updates as needed.”
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Photo by: James Sutton / LAT Images via Getty Images
Who will step up if necessary?
While it’s unlikely, there is a possibility that a reserve driver may be required for either of the drivers.
At Mercedes, the 2023 Formula 2 runner-up Frederik Vesti would be the option, who has yet to compete in a grand prix but is expected to make his seventh career Free Practice 1 appearance this weekend in George Russell’s vehicle.
For Cadillac, Zhou Guanyu serves as the team’s reserve driver, meaning the seven-time points scorer could make his F1 return after concluding his three-year term with Alfa Romeo/Sauber at the end of the 2024 season.
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– The Autosport.com Team
