Author Archives: PressBox

Kimi Antonelli will miss Thursday’s Mexico City Grand Prix media day because of a viral illness as he heads into the weekend on the verge of becoming Formula 1’s youngest world champion. Mercedes said the FIA excused Antonelli from mandatory media duties as a precaution so he can rest, and the team expects him to return on Friday for practice at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Antonelli leads George Russell by 123 points after winning the United States Grand Prix, and he can clinch his maiden Formula 1 world title with a top-nine finish in Sunday’s race. If he seals the championship, he would break Sebastian Vettel’s record by three years.

Valtteri Bottas also missed Thursday’s media duties in Mexico City because he was unwell. Cadillac said his absence was a precaution and did not currently affect his participation for the rest of the weekend. If Antonelli or Bottas could not take part, Mercedes would likely turn to Frederik Vesti and Cadillac to Zhou Guanyu as reserve options.

Paddock physician Dr. Elina Haukipuro said Formula 1’s packed schedule and triple-headers are leaving drivers and team staff fatigued, and that reduced recovery time is contributing to more illness late in the season.

Daniel Ricciardo said he could consider a one-off return for the Le Mans 24 Hours, but ruled out racing a full Le Mans season or championship as he thinks about finishing on his own terms. The former Formula 1 driver said he is mostly at peace with how his F1 career ended after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix and two years after his last motor race, though he had once insisted he would never race again.

Ricciardo said his final race would ideally be one where he leaves smiling and happy, with a sense of closure. He said endurance racing appeals to him because drivers share a car with teammates, can share data and work together, and it could help him enjoy competition again. He also said he is unsure whether opening the door to racing again would stir up his ambitions.

Asked about a possible Le Mans lineup, Ricciardo named Max Verstappen as his top choice and also mentioned Sebastian Vettel. He joked that a Red Bull reunion at Le Mans could give fans something they want, but there was no deal in place for a Ricciardo-Verstappen reunion and any pairing would depend on Verstappen agreeing and the logistics coming together.

Daniel Ricciardo said his sudden exit from Formula 1 initially left him feeling “failure and humiliation,” and retirement forced him to rethink life outside the sport and redefine his purpose. He said he hid from the pain and sadness for months after leaving, struggled in the aftermath and had wanted to walk away from Formula 1 at Monaco in 2022 and Silverstone in 2015. Ricciardo said his perspective on his exit has changed over time, and that he is extremely proud of his career even though he still does not like how it ended.

He also said he regrets leaving Red Bull for Renault at the end of 2018 and wishes he had stayed, believing the move may have cost him his best chance to fight for a Formula 1 world championship. Ricciardo said he left because he felt he was becoming comfortable and wanted a new challenge after a decade in the team’s system. He said he does not want to claim he would have beaten Max Verstappen if he had stayed, but described the move as a pivotal moment and said he remains curious about how his career might have unfolded.

Ricciardo finished his Formula 1 career with 8 wins and 32 podiums in 257 starts, after beginning with HRT in 2011. His final Formula 1 appearance came at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, after which Racing Bulls replaced him with Liam Lawson. Since leaving the series, he has spent more time in Perth with family and friends, worked as a Ford Racing ambassador and developed his Enchanté brand. He said he would only consider a comeback for the right reasons, not to force a fairytale ending.