Valtteri Bottas Misses Mexico City GP Media Day Due to Illness

Valtteri Bottas is taking a precautionary pause ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix, as illness sidelines him from Thursday's media engagements, Cadillac has confirmed. This makes him the second driver to withdraw from pre-race activities, with Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli also advised to rest due to a viral infection.

Cadillac announced that Bottas will be absent from the media day to recuperate but is expected to be back on track when the race weekend officially kicks off on Friday. "Cadillac Formula 1 Team can confirm that Valtteri Bottas will unfortunately be unable to attend today’s media day in Mexico City as he is unwell," the team stated. "The team has taken the decision to allow him a day of rest, to support his recovery. This is a precautionary measure and does not currently affect his participation in the remainder of the race weekend."

In Bottas's stead, Colton Herta is slated to take the wheel for the first practice session. This will mark Herta's fifth outing in FP1 this season, giving him a chance to accumulate the necessary points for an FIA Super Licence. If he manages to cover over 100km during the session, he could earn the point needed to reach the 40-point threshold, allowing him to compete in Formula 1.

Meanwhile, Bottas's future with Cadillac remains a topic of speculation. While Sergio Perez has secured his place with the team until 2029, Bottas's contract situation is less clear. He is reportedly on a one-plus-one deal, with the team holding an option for 2027. Although he is believed to be the preferred choice for next season, nothing is set in stone. Improved performances compared to teammate Perez could solidify his position, but Herta emerges as a potential challenger, should he secure his Super Licence.

For now, Bottas will focus on recovery, hoping to return to the cockpit in full form, while Herta takes a step closer to a possible F1 future.