Motor racing-Antonelli reports sick ahead of momentous Mexico weekend

Formula One F1 - United States Grand Prix - Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, U.S. - October 25, 2026 Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli arrives ahead of the race IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Jerome Miron

MEXICO CITY, Oct ⁠29 (Reuters) - Kimi Antonelli was excused media ⁠duties on Thursday with the Mercedes driver ‌feeling unwell ahead of a Mexico City Grand Prix weekend that is set to make him Formula One'syoungest ​champion.

The team said the 20-year-old ⁠Italian was recovering ⁠from a viral illness and "feeling under the weather".

"As ⁠a precaution, ‌the FIA have excused him from his mandatory media duties to ⁠give him the chance to rest ahead ​of the ‌weekend. We expect him to be back ⁠tomorrow," a ​spokeswoman said.

Antonelli will be champion on Sunday if he finishes in the top nine at ⁠the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on ​Sunday, even if closest rival and teammate George Russell wins the race. The Italian, who won ⁠in Texas last weekend, has a 123-point lead with five races and a maximum 125 points remaining.

Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas was also feeling ​unwell and taking a ⁠day of rest.

"This is a precautionary measure and ​does not currently affect his ‌participation in the remainder ​of the race weekend," the team said.

(Reporting by Alan BaldwinEditing by Christian Radnedge)

Thank you for your report!

一级方程式赛车（F1）——美国大奖赛——美国德克萨斯州奥斯汀美洲赛道——2026年10月25日，梅赛德斯车队的基米·安东内利在赛前抵达。图片来源：路透社/杰罗姆·米隆

墨西哥城，10 月 29 日（路透社）——梅赛德斯车手基米·安东内利周四因身体不适被免除了媒体采访义务。他即将参加墨西哥城大奖赛，如果获胜，他将成为一级方程式赛车历史上最年轻的冠军。

球队表示，这位 20 岁的意大利球员正在从病毒性疾病中恢复，并且“感觉身体不适”。

“作为预防措施，国际汽联已免除他必须履行的媒体职责，以便他在周末前得到休息。我们预计他明天就会回来，”一位发言人说。

如果安东内利周日在罗德里格斯兄弟赛道（Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez）的比赛中进入前九名，即使他最接近的竞争对手兼队友乔治·拉塞尔赢得比赛，他仍将提前夺冠。这位意大利车手上周末在德克萨斯州夺冠，目前领先123分，还剩五场比赛，最多可获得125分。

凯迪拉克车队的瓦尔特里·博塔斯也感到身体不适，休息了一天。

车队表示：“这是一项预防措施，目前不会影响他参加本周末剩余的比赛。”

（艾伦·鲍德温报道，克里斯蒂安·拉德内奇编辑）

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