Antonelli struck with illness ahead of race

The biggest weekend in Kimi Antonelli’s motor racing life so far began in silence on Thursday when he was excused from media duties at the Mexico City Grand Prix due to a viral illness.

Instead of attending news conferences and talking to reporters at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the 20-year-old Italian was left to rest and recover ahead of his expected confirmation as Formula One’s youngest champion and first Italian in 73 years.

A spokesperson for his Mercedes team said that Antonelli was feeling under the weather with a viral illness and was excused from the media day by ruling body the International Automobile Federation (FIA) “as a precaution to give him the chance to rest.”

People hold a cardboard cut-out of Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Thursday.

Photo: Reuters

“We expect him to be back tomorrow,” the team said.

The precocious runaway leader of the drivers’ title race would normally have faced a heavy schedule ahead of such a potentially momentous race. He is 123 points clear of nearest rival and Mercedes teammate George Russell and 124 ahead of Ferrari’s seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.

He can clinch the title, even if Russell wins, by finishing ninth or better and will be champion if either one of his two title rivals fails to win — even if he finishes pointless or does not take part.

Antonelli was not the only driver to go down with illness ahead of the high-altitude second race of a Transamerican triple-header of consecutive races in Texas, Mexico and Brazil as Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas was also unwell and declared to be absent.

In a statement, the American team said that it had “taken the decision to allow him a day of rest, to support his recovery.”

If Antonelli is too ill to race, his seat is likely to go to Mercedes reserve driver Frederik Vesti, who would make his Formula One racing debut after taking part in six free practice sessions for the team.

Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff called for a cool, calm and collected approach as they bid for part one of a first Formula One double title success.

“The championships are moving closer, but our mindset does not change,” Wolff said, adding that concentration and discipline are essential to success.

“Thinking about the outcome won’t help us achieve it,” he said. “We will stay disciplined, take each session as it comes and concentrate on doing all the fundamentals well.”

Meanwhile, Hamilton said he wants to make sure Ferrari secure second spot in the constructors’ championship.

With five races remaining on the schedule, Hamilton is behind both Mercedes drivers in the championship with 241 points — just one point behind Russell.

For the seven-time world champion, the personal achievement of overhauling Russell is less important than Ferrari’s push to hold its place behind series-leading Mercedes.

Second place “is not something I focus on. Winning the championship is the only thing I care about,” Hamilton said.