Antonelli to miss Mexico media day with illness

Kimi Antonelli is to miss Thursday's Mexico City Grand Prix media day with an illness as he stands on the brink of clinching his first world title.

Kimi Antonelli leads Mercedes team-mate George Russell by 123 points in the drivers' championship

The Italian's Mercedes team said that Antonelli had a "viral illness" and had been excused his duties on Thursday by governing body the FIA "as a precaution to give him the chance to rest ahead of the weekend".

A Mercedes spokesperson said: "We expect him to be back tomorrow."

Antonelli will seal the championship, and become the youngest winner in Formula 1 history, as long as he does not lose more than two points to team-mate George Russell and one point to Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton in the grand prix on Sunday.

The only way he could be stopped from tying up the title is if one of Russell and Hamilton wins. Ninth would be enough for Antonelli to become champion if it is Russell, and 10th if it is Hamilton.

Antonelli is one of two drivers to miss media day with an illness.

Source: BBC Sport