Lando Norris Reveals Health Strategy Amid Mexico City Illnesses

As the F1 paddock arrives in Mexico City, health has become a critical variable in the championship race. While Kimi Antonelli and Valtteri Bottas were excused from media duties due to illness, outgoing champion Lando Norris has revealed the strict discipline he employs to maintain peak performance during the season's most exhausting stretch.

Why it matters:

With the 2026 calendar featuring an intense 15-week run and multiple triple-headers, a single viral infection can derail a title campaign. For Kimi Antonelli, who is on the verge of securing the world championship, maintaining physical health is now as vital as the car's aerodynamic efficiency.

The details:

• Dietary Discipline: Norris avoids "funky foods," sticking primarily to a safe regimen of pasta and occasional chicken to minimize gastrointestinal risks.
• Hydration Safety: To avoid local contaminants in Mexico and Brazil, Norris uses bottled water exclusively, even for basic hygiene like brushing his teeth.
• Recovery Protocol: He designates Mondays and Tuesdays as total rest days to recover from the mental drain of marketing events and travel.
• Travel Strategy: Norris prefers arriving at race venues significantly earlier than his peers to better acclimatize to the environment and altitude.

The big picture:

The current season's structure—spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas—places unprecedented strain on drivers. The upcoming Las Vegas-Qatar-Abu Dhabi triple-header will test the limits of human endurance, particularly as geopolitical tensions continue to cast uncertainty over the final two rounds.

What's next:

All eyes are on Sunday's race. If neither George Russell nor Lewis Hamilton secures the victory, Kimi Antonelli will be crowned the World Champion, marking a historic shift in the sport's hierarchy.