Antonelli Battles Viral Illness Ahead of Mexico GP as Hamilton Targets Ferrari's Second Place

Formula One championship leader Kimi Antonelli is recovering from a viral illness ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix, while seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has shifted his focus to helping Ferrari secure second place in the Constructors' Championship.

Mercedes confirmed that the 20-year-old Italian driver would miss his scheduled media commitments on Thursday after falling ill. The team said the FIA had excused him from mandatory media duties as a precaution to allow him to rest ahead of the race weekend.

"Kimi is feeling under the weather today as he recovers from a viral illness," Mercedes said in a statement, adding that it expected him to return on Friday.

Antonelli is on the verge of a historic achievement, needing only a ninth-place finish in Sunday's race to secure the drivers' championship. If successful, he would become the youngest world champion in F1 history and the first Italian to win the title since Alberto Ascari in 1953.

He arrives in Mexico following his victory at last weekend's United States Grand Prix in Austin. Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas also missed Thursday's media commitments due to illness.

Meanwhile, Hamilton, who has 241 points and trails Mercedes' George Russell by one point, has conceded that the drivers' title is beyond his reach this season. Antonelli leads the standings with 365 points, with five races remaining.

Hamilton said his priority was now to help Ferrari finish second in the Constructors' Championship, an improvement on its fourth-place finish last year.

Ferrari currently enjoys a 119-point advantage over Red Bull and McLaren in the battle for second place. The team's recent momentum has been boosted by podium finishes from both drivers over the last three races. Hamilton finished third in Bahrain, while teammate Charles Leclerc secured third-place finishes in Singapore and the United States.

Hamilton joined Ferrari in 2025 after a 12-year stint with Mercedes, during which he won six of his seven world titles. Ferrari last won the Constructors' Championship in 2008.

With races in Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi following Mexico, Hamilton also plans to use the remaining rounds to assess the car and prepare for 2027, focusing on braking performance and engine development.