On Thursday, Fernando Alonso had to call in sick for his media obligations in the run-up to the GP of Mexico. The Spanish star was supposed to attend the official Formula 1 press conference, especially since he is driving his 400th GP in Mexico City. It was already known that he would be replaced by Felipe Drugovich during the first free practice.
The media in Mexico City had to make do with Charles Leclerc and Guanyu Zhou on Thursday; Fernando Alonso reported sick for an official press moment. It is unknown what exactly the two-time world champion is suffering from. Altitude sickness may play a role – Mexico City and the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez are more than two thousand meters above sea level.
During the first free practice, the Spanish star can recover a bit – Aston Martin had already announced that former Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich is allowed to step into Alonso’s car. Hopefully, the 43-year-old driver will be fit enough to get behind the wheel himself afterwards. Alonso is driving his 400th Grand Prix this weekend, a new record in Formula 1.
Milestone
“It’s nice to achieve that,” Fernando Alonso previously told the German Autosport. “Of course, championships and race victories are more important, but at the same time, it shows my love for the sport and the discipline I’ve had to maintain to perform at a very high level for over twenty years.” Alonso made his debut in the premier class with Minardi on March 4, 2001. Drivers like Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson, and Franco Colapinto were not even born yet!
“I’ve already achieved what every driver dreams of,” Alonso continued. “I’ve become a world champion and have had incredible experiences with the best drivers on the best circuits. Driving another four hundred races will be difficult, but hopefully, I have at least forty or fifty more ahead of me,” he concluded.
