Sports · Motorsport · 16 hrs ago
Checo Pérez qualifies 21st for the Mexican Grand Prix after illness
Checo Pérez qualified 21st for the Mexican Grand Prix after missing the final practice session because of a viral illness.
The Mexican driver, racing for Cadillac, said missing the session hurt because the track had changed from the day before.
He said his team changed the engine and expects the car to be in good shape for the race.
Pérez hopes for a strong start and first lap so he can fight other teams and drivers.
He said finishing would be important, but that getting into the competition matters more to him.
Pérez has not climbed from the back of the grid to the front during the season, and he and teammate Valtteri Bottas have no points in the drivers’ championship.
The race is the next chance to make progress, and Pérez said he is confident he can finish.
Sergio “Checo” Pérez qualified 21st for the Mexican Grand Prix after illness kept him from the third practice session.
Pérez said the illness was viral and that missing practice left him without a useful reference as the track changed.
He said his aim in the race was to compete with other teams and drivers.
Pérez said the car’s engine had been changed and that he was confident he would finish the race.
Valtteri Bottas was also eliminated in qualifying and will start alongside Pérez at the back of the grid.
- Who
- Sergio “Checo” Pérez, driving for Cadillac F1 Team, and Valtteri Bottas.
- What
- Pérez qualified 21st for the Mexican Grand Prix after illness kept him from third practice.
- When
- The illness was reported on Friday; the articles were published on October 31 and November 1, 2026.
- Where
- The Mexican Grand Prix.
- Why
- Pérez said a viral illness prevented him from driving, and missing third practice left him with less time to adjust to track changes.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Pérez reported a viral illness that prevented him from driving.
Pérez said the track had changed from the reference he had from the previous day.
Pérez qualified 21st, while Bottas was also eliminated.
- Qualifying position
- 21st
- Team
- Cadillac F1 Team
- Illness
- Viral illness reported on Friday
- Missed session
- Third practice
- Other driver eliminated
- Valtteri Bottas
3 sources
What people are saying
I think getting into the fight with some other teams, drivers. That would be very good and motivating for me.
We changed the engine, so we should be fine.
Yesterday I had a virus that affected me quite a bit.
We could get the most out of the car.