Kimi Antonelli Dealing with ‘Viral Illness’ Ahead of Potential Formula 1 Championship-Clinching Race

Kimi Antonelli walks in pit lane during the F1 Grand Prix of Italy on Sept. 6, 2026.Credit: Kym Illman/GettyNEED TO KNOWKimi Antonelli has a “viral illness,” his team said ThursdayMercedes said the FIA excused the 20-year-old from Thursday media duties so he could restAntonelli could clinch the Formula 1 championship this weekend, which would make him F1’s youngest champion and Italy’s first in over 70 yearsKimi Antonelli is on the road to recovery.The 20-year-old Italian driver opted out of media obligations at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Thursday, Oct. 29, due to a “viral illness” ahead of the 2026 Mexico Grand Prix this weekend, Mercedes, his racing team, said.“Kimi is feeling under the weather today as he recovers from a viral illness,” Mercedes said in a statement. “As a precaution, the FIA has 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.”Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes AMG Petronas travels on a scooter in the pit lane during the F1 Grand Prix of United States on Oct. 25, 2026.Credit: Jayce Illman/GettyRest and recovery are essential for Antonelli, who is on track to become the youngest Formula 1 champion of all time and the first Italian champion in over 70 years with a win at the Mexico Grand Prix. The Mercedes star is poised to beat Sebastian Vettel’s long-standing record for the youngest-ever champion (he was 23 years and 134 days old when he won his first title in 2010).Antonelli is coming into the Mexico GP with a 123-point lead over teammate George Russell and 124 points over Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari. The Italian athlete only needs to get two points to secure the championship.If Antonelli places ninth or higher in the race, he automatically wins the title, regardless of where Russell or Hamilton finish. If he comes in 10th, he will win the championship unless his Mercedes teammate places in first.Kimi Antonelli races in the 2026 United States Grand Prix.Credit: Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via GettyAhead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin last weekend, where Antonelli placed first, the Mercedes youngster opened up about possibly securing the title. He also recalled what he remembers — or rather, doesn’t — from the time Vettel made history at age 23 in 2010 when he was driving for Red Bull Racing.“I don’t remember that, when I was four years old. Yeah, I’m sorry. I remember, I was playing with Hot Wheels, but I don’t remember him clinching it,” Antonelli said during a press conference on Thursday, Oct. 22 ahead of the Austin GP.Follow your favorite athletes on and off the field with PEOPLE’s free sports newsletter — sign up now!Vettel beat out Hamilton, who was driving for McLaren at the time, and his own Red Bull teammate Mark Webber when he made history in 2010. The momentous win happened at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the last race of the season.Kimi Antonelli celebrates on the podium after placing first at the 2026 United States Grand Prix.Credit: Reginald Mathalone/NurPhoto via Getty“Later on, when I grew up, I saw the race, which was crazy as well, the way it happened, because it was a very close title fight between all of you guys,” Antonelli said.Additionally, the Italian driver — who has won nine Grand Prix in the 2026 Formula 1 season to date — gave the media a glimpse inside his mind when thinking about beating Vettel’s record.“Obviously, I’m in an incredible position,” he said before the US Grand Prix. “This year, with how things went and how I felt in the car during the weekends, and also with the momentum going, I thought I might have had a chance this year to fight. Luckily, I’m in a very good position right now.”“But, of course, I still have to keep going,” he continued. “And the mindset is always the same: whenever I go on track, I want to be at the top and try to win as much as possible, whether I win the championship this weekend, next weekend or in Brazil. Let’s see. But it’s not over until it’s over.”Read the original article on People