Alonso pulls outs out of Mexican GP media duties due to illness

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Fernando Alonso has withdrawn from Thursday’s scheduled media duties at the Mexican Grand Prix due to illness, Aston Martin has confirmed.

The team added that the two-time World Champion is focused on recovering in time for Friday’s opening day of running at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

However, Aston Martin reserve driver Felipe Drugovich was already scheduled to take over the Spaniard’s AMR24 in Friday’s FP1 as part of Team Silverstone’s mandate to run a rookie in two practice sessions during the season.

So Alonso will enjoy a few extra hours of rest before hopefully returning to the cockpit for the day’s second practice session.

“Fernando Alonso is feeling unwell and will therefore not attend media day at the Mexico City Grand Prix,” Aston Martin stated.

“Fernando is focused on feeling 100% for Friday and his planned return to the AMR24 for Free Practice 2.”

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Despite the setback, this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix holds special significance for Alonso. The event marks the Spaniard’s 400th appearance at a Formula 1 event, a milestone highlighting his longevity and enduring passion for the sport.

“It’s nice to achieve,” he said. “Obviously, championships and race wins are what matter most to us as drivers but, at the same time, it shows my love for the sport and the discipline I’ve had to perform at a very high level for more than 20 years.

“In that time, I’ve achieved what every racing driver dreams of doing: becoming [a] World Champion.

“And I’ve had some incredible experiences racing against some of the best drivers in the world on the greatest racetracks.

“I don’t think I’ll be adding another 400 to my total, but hopefully I’ve got at least another 40 or 50 more races to come in the next couple of years.”

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.