Antonelli to skip Mexico City GP media day due to illness

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli will skip Thursday's media day ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix as he recovers from a viral illness. Formula 1 is the top level of single-seater motor racing, and this round takes place at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in the Mexican capital. The 20-year-old could be crowned world champion this weekend.

If Antonelli finishes in the top nine in Sunday's race, he will secure the title and become the youngest champion in the sport's history, beating Sebastian Vettel's record by three years.

Team statement

Mercedes said the driver was feeling under the weather and that, as a precaution, the FIA, motorsport's governing body, had excused him from his mandatory media duties so he could rest before the race weekend. The team said it expects him to be back on Friday.

Weekend schedule

The first practice session is on Friday, when second practice will also take place. Qualifying is on Saturday and the race itself on Sunday. The Mexico City round is the second leg of the Americas triple-header.

The source does not say what symptoms the driver has or how serious the illness is.