Mercedes reserve driver Frederik Vesti will likely replace Kimi Antonelli at the Mexico GP if the Italian is too ill to race. (EPA Images pic)MEXICO CITY: The biggest weekend in Kimi Antonelli's motor racing life so far began in silence on Thursday when he was excused from media duties at the Mexico City Grand Prix due to a viral illness.
Instead of attending news conferences and talking to reporters at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the 20-year-old Italian was left to rest and recover ahead of his expected confirmation as Formula One's youngest champion and first Italian in 73 years.
A spokesperson for his Mercedes team said Antonelli was feeling under the weather with a viral illness and was excused from the media day by ruling body the International Automobile Federation (FIA) "as a precaution to give him the chance to rest".
