The Mercedes driver missed his scheduled media sessions on Thursday due to a viral illness, though his team expects him back in the car for Friday practice.

Championship Math Ahead of Mexico City

With five rounds remaining in the 2026 season, Antonelli sits atop the standings with 365 points. His closest challenger and teammate, George Russell, holds 242 points, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton is third with 241. Because a maximum of 125 points remains available across the final five grands prix, Antonelli needs only two points at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to put the championship out of reach. Even if Antonelli and Russell finish level on points at the end of the year, the title would go to the Italian under the countback rule, as Antonelli has secured nine Grand Prix victories this season compared to Russell’s three. Antonelli previously had an opportunity to wrap up the championship last weekend in Austin, United States, where he claimed his ninth victory of the year and his 15th podium finish overall, but was unable to clinch the crown due to his closest rivals’ results. If the championship battle extends past this weekend, Antonelli would have another opportunity a week later in Brazil. Should he fail to finish ninth or higher, he would still secure the title provided neither Russell nor Hamilton wins the race. Jsme opravdu hodně blízko a snad se nám ten titul podaří brzy získat, Antonelli said. Do závodu půjdu se stejným nastavením. Mým cílem je zakončit to ve velkém stylu, he added. Behind the battle for the lead, Max Verstappen sits fourth in the standings with 236 points—having won a record five races in Mexico—while Charles Leclerc is fifth with 233 points. Meanwhile, 36-year-old Sergio Pérez of Cadillac faces his home race, which also marks his milestone 300th start in Formula 1.

Illness Disrupts Thursday Media Schedule

Health complications have interrupted the young driver’s preparations in Mexico. Antonelli was excused from Thursday’s media commitments by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile after contracting a viral infection. Mercedes issued a statement confirming that their driver spent Thursday resting out of the paddock but is anticipated to return for Friday’s opening practice sessions. A similar illness kept Valtteri Bottas of Cadillac out of Thursday’s media sessions as well, though the American outfit also anticipates his return.

Historic Records and the Number 12 Dilemma

Should Antonelli seal the title in Mexico, he will surpass Sebastian Vettel—who won the 2010 world championship at 23 years and 134 days old—as the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history, while also becoming Italy’s first world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953. Looking beyond the championship battle, Antonelli told the Swiss publication Blick that he plans to keep his current racing number rather than adopt the champion’s traditional number one. Nejdřív musím v Mexiku všechno zvládnout. Když se to podaří, nejspíš ale zůstanu u dvanáctky, Antonelli said. Since permanent numbers were introduced in 2014, Lewis Hamilton remains the only champion to decline the number one, sticking with his number 44 during his successful tenure at Mercedes. The number one currently belongs to Lando Norris, who inherited it from Max Verstappen following his championship triumph last season; Norris currently holds sixth place in the standings with 211 points as the final driver to reach the 200-point threshold.

Constructors’ Standings and Next Steps

Mercedes also holds an opportunity to wrap up the Constructors’ Championship this weekend. Leading Ferrari by 133 points with 607 total, the German manufacturer needs to expand that gap beyond 172 points on Sunday. Buď to bude velká oslava s tequilou, a pokud ne, tak příští týden s caipirinhou, Wolff joked about potential celebrations in Mexico or Brazil. To secure the constructors’ title this weekend, Mercedes must either finish first and second to score 43 points while Ferrari takes a maximum of four, or take first and third for 40 points while Ferrari scores no more than one point. Action at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez begins on Friday with two practice sessions, followed by a third practice on Saturday ahead of qualifying at 22:00 CET, with Sunday’s grand prix starting an hour earlier.