Kimi Antonelli arrived in Mexico City on the brink of Formula 1's youngest-ever World Championship after taking the checkered flag at COTA last Sunday, but the Mercedes driver skipped Thursday's mandatory media session while battling a viral illness. The 20-year-old stayed at his hotel with FIA dispensation, raising questions about his fitness for Friday practice at the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Antonelli's title charge has defined the season — a rookie campaign that's put him within reach of eclipsing Max Verstappen's age record. Meanwhile, paddock chatter turned to Sergio Perez's surprise Cadillac contract extension through 2029, locking the Mexican veteran into America's incoming F1 project. Whether Antonelli can shake off the bug and seal the crown in front of Perez's home crowd is the weekend's defining subplot.
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