Kimi Antonelli and Valtteri Bottas miss Mexico City Grand Prix media day due to illness

OPA WIRE, Oct 29 (OPA) — Kimi Antonelli and Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas missed scheduled media obligations on Thursday ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix. Both drivers are currently managing undisclosed illnesses, forcing teams to adjust their pre-race commitments at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

A Cadillac spokesperson stated the team granted Bottas a day of rest to aid his recovery. The team emphasized that the decision is precautionary and does not impact his status for the remainder of the race weekend. Officials noted they will continue to monitor the driver's condition and provide updates as required.

The absence comes amid ongoing speculation regarding Cadillac’s driver lineup for 2027. While the team recently extended Sergio Perez’s contract through 2029, they have yet to confirm a seat for Bottas. Insiders suggest the team is evaluating reserve driver Colton Herta as a potential replacement for the veteran Finn.

Herta is scheduled to participate in Friday’s practice session, marking his fifth F1 outing this year. The team is aiming to secure the necessary mileage for Herta to obtain an F1 super licence. Despite a challenging Formula 2 season that leaves him 19th in the standings, Cadillac maintains that Herta has demonstrated sufficient potential during his previous F1 test runs.