Kimi Antonelli will skip Thursday's media day at the Mexico City Grand Prix with what Mercedes called a "viral illness". It comes days before the weekend that could make him Formula 1's youngest-ever world champion.
The FIA excused him from his press duties as a precaution so he could rest. Mercedes expects him back at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Friday, when first practice starts at 18:30 GMT.
The title is close to settled. Antonelli leads team-mate George Russell by 123 points. Only a win for Russell or for Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton can delay the coronation. Even then, ninth place is enough for Antonelli if Russell wins, and tenth if Hamilton wins.
He isn't the only absentee. Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas is also missing media day after falling unwell. The team called it a precautionary rest day that does not currently affect his weekend. That comes a day after Cadillac extended Sergio Pérez's contract to at least 2029 without saying anything about Bottas. The team is giving reserve Colton Herta another Friday practice outing as he chases the super licence he needs to race.
Source
Original summary by Proventier.