As Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso nears his historic 400th Formula 1 weekend, the two-time world champion faces an unexpected challenge: illness. Alonso will miss Thursday’s media day at the Mexico City Grand Prix, but the Spanish driver remains hopeful to be back on track for Friday’s Free Practice 2.
The 42-year-old, who was set to miss the first practice session anyway as Aston Martin’s reserve driver Felipe Drugovich takes his AMR24 for a spin, received clearance to skip his Thursday media obligations, including an appearance at the FIA press conference. In a statement, Aston Martin expressed support for their veteran driver: “Fernando is focused on feeling 100% for Friday and his planned return to the AMR24.”
This weekend marks a significant milestone for Alonso as he celebrates 400 Formula 1 race weekends—a testament to his enduring passion and discipline. While it won’t officially count as his 400th race start due to three missed starts earlier in his career, Alonso reflected on the achievement earlier this week, noting that although wins and championships are his primary goals, reaching this milestone highlights his dedication to the sport over more than two decades.
“It’s nice to achieve,” he shared. “Obviously, championships and race wins are what matter most to us as drivers, but this shows my love for the sport and the discipline I’ve maintained at a high level for more than 20 years.”
Alonso, who has expressed excitement about continuing his career for at least “another 40 or 50 races,” remains eager to capitalize on every opportunity to compete at the highest level.
As the Mexico City Grand Prix approaches, fans and teammates alike are hopeful that Alonso’s quick recovery will allow him to take his place on the grid for this milestone weekend.
