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Antonelli misses Mexico GP media day as Mercedes cites viral illness

Conceptual AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph or evidence that a pictured event, meeting or transfer occurred. · 2026-10-29GPBeat newsroom · News Made Clear generated illustration

Mercedes says Kimi Antonelli will miss Thursday’s Mexico GP media day while recovering from a viral illness; the FIA excused him, and the team expects him back Friday. He can clinch his first F1 title on Sunday.

GPBeat · Newsroom29 Oct 2026, 20:41 · 1 min

Mercedes says Kimi Antonelli will miss Thursday’s Mexico Grand Prix media day because he is feeling unwell while recovering from a viral illness. The FIA excused the championship leader from that day’s media activities, and Mercedes expects him back Friday.

Antonelli was not the only driver to miss Thursday’s media activities: Cadillac said Valtteri Bottas was unwell and gave him a day of rest. Cadillac described the rest day as a precaution and said it did not at that point affect Bottas’s participation in the rest of the weekend.

Antonelli is on the brink of his maiden F1 title. A ninth-place finish in Sunday’s race would be enough to clinch it; he can also take the championship if neither George Russell nor Lewis Hamilton wins. A title would make him the youngest world champion, beating Sebastian Vettel’s 2010 record by more than three years.

Sources 02
  1. SOURCEAntonelli skips F1 Mexico GP media day due to illnessAutosport
  2. SOURCEUnwell Kimi Antonelli skips F1 Mexico GP media dayMotorsport.com F1

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