FIA excuses Kimi Antonelli from media duties due to illness
Kimi Antonelli will miss media duties at the Mexico City Grand Prix due to a viral illness as he nears his first world title. Valtteri Bottas also missed media sessions due to being unwell, while Cadillac considers Colton Herta for a future seat alongside Sergio Perez.
FIA excuses Antonelli from media duties
Kimi Antonelli is on the brink of clinching his first world title, but he will miss Thursday’s media day at the Mexico City Grand Prix because a "viral illness" led the FIA to excuse him as a precaution to allow him rest ahead of the weekend. Mercedes expects the 20-year-old Italian to return tomorrow for practice sessions starting Friday at 18:30 GMT. The 20-year-old Italian driver sits on the brink of becoming the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history as he seeks to beat Sebastian Vettel’s 2010 record by over three years. He clinches the title as long as he does not lose more than two points to George Russell or one point to Lewis Hamilton on Sunday. He will only be stopped from tying up the title if one of those two drivers wins the grand prix.
| Championship Clinch Requirements | Max Points Lost |
|---|---|
| To George Russell | 2 |
| To Lewis Hamilton | 1 |
Antonelli secures the championship if he finishes ninth while Russell wins, or tenth if Hamilton wins the race. This outcome depends on him staying within the points margins listed above.
Driver absences and Cadillac roster updates
Valtteri Bottas also missed media day because Cadillac reported the Finn was "unwell". The team allowed him a day of rest to support his recovery, but they state this does not affect his participation in the remainder of the race weekend. Cadillac recently announced that Sergio Perez will stay with the team until at least 2029. The team considers promoting American reserve driver Colton Herta, who moved to Formula 2 this year to prepare for Formula 1. Herta currently sits 19th in the Formula 2 standings with a best result of fifth place, and he previously competed as a front-runner in the Indycar championship.
Herta will participate in his fifth outing of the year during Friday practice at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez to earn enough mileage for a super licence. Cadillac believes he has shown potential in his F1 outings, which include runs in cars from previous years. No decision exists regarding whether Bottas or Herta will partner Perez in 2027. Mercedes might call up 2023 Formula 2 runner-up Frederik Vesti, who is scheduled to drive George Russell’s car during Free Practice 1, while Cadillac could use seven-time points scorer Zhou Guanyu if a replacement becomes necessary. Zhou Guanyu would make his F1 return after he finished his three-year stint with Alfa Romeo/Sauber at the end of the 2024 campaign.
