Antonelli and Bottas cleared for Mexico practice after illness

Kimi Antonelli and Valtteri Bottas were cleared to take part in Friday practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix after illness kept them away from Thursday’s media commitments. Antonelli, who could secure the drivers’ title this weekend, was due in FP1; Bottas was scheduled for FP2 after Cadillac gave him a day to rest.

Antonelli had been recovering from a viral illness. Mercedes said he had recovered in time for FP1 and would be back in the car. Bottas had felt unwell, but Cadillac did not disclose a specific diagnosis. Both drivers went through the medical process and were cleared by the FIA Medical Delegate.

Ahead of Friday’s running, neither illness was understood to pose lasting fitness concerns for the rest of the weekend, though the symptoms behind the absences remained unclear. Colton Herta was set to drive Bottas’s car in FP1, with enough laps expected to secure him an FIA Super Licence.