Antonelli to miss Thursday media day in Mexico due to illness
Filip Škripko
Kimi Antonelli’s Mexican weekend is not getting off to an ideal start. The young Italian has been forced to miss Thursday’s media duties because of a viral illness, Mercedes explained.
Antonelli will most likely become world champion as early as Sunday. He had therefore been due to reveal on Thursday how he was feeling ahead of a huge weekend, one that will stand in Formula 1’s record books for a very long time. Not so long ago, it was difficult to imagine anyone breaking Sebastian Vettel’s record. But imagining someone beating Antonelli’s mark and winning their first title before the age of 20 years and 68 days borders on science fiction.
“Kimi is feeling under the weather today as he recovers from a viral illness,” Mercedes confirmed to the media. “As a precaution, the FIA have excused him from his mandatory media duties to give him the chance to rest ahead of the weekend.”
Frederik Vesti is due to drive for the Silver Arrows in first practice, replacing George Russell. Following Antonelli’s health issues, the team may consider whether it would be better to give him a few more hours’ rest. Whatever they decide, we have been given this assurance: “We expect him to be back tomorrow.”
In any case, Antonelli needs to recover by Sunday so he can celebrate the title properly. Max Verstappen knows the best way to celebrate in Mexico: “Tequilaaa!” he laughed after the race in Austin.
“But for Brazil, you want to arrive in the best shape,” Charles Leclerc remarked to Antonelli, prompting Verstappen to add: “Or he misses the Grand Prix!”
Team principal Toto Wolff is also looking forward to the celebrations. “I think we had Lewis there one day also. It would definitely be a lot of tequila on ice. But you know, he still needs to finish the race in Mexico.”
Cadillac confirmed on Thursday afternoon that Valtteri Bottas would also be absent from the circuit for health reasons. Triple-header race weekends are taking their toll on the drivers.