Aston Martin Releases Update After Fernando Alonso Health Issues in Mexico

Aston Martin confirms Fernando Alonso’s return to Formula 1 in Mexico following a brief illness, marking his 400th race.

Oct 20, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team driver Fernando Alonso (14) of Team Spain walks through the track entrance before the 2024 Formula One US Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Aston Martin has announced that Fernando Alonso will be returning to the seat of the AMR24 for the second Free Practice session in Mexico.

An unexpected health issue led to the Spanish driver sitting out of the media day and the FIA-mandated young driver sessions when rookie Felipe Drugovich took his place for the first practice session (FP1).

The Silverstone-based squad has reassured fans through a statement confirming:

“Fernando Alonso is returning to the paddock today and is due to drive in FP2 as planned."

This weekend is not just another race for Alonso but represents a milestone in his extensive career. As he marks his 400th Grand Prix entry, Alonso has reflected deeply on his journey and the passion that has sustained him. Speaking on the Beyond The Grid podcast, the two-time champion commented:

“To reach 400 now is a big number.

“It’s a way of demonstrating my passion for the sport and for F1.

“Knowing that no one reached that number in the past, maybe someone does in the future, but not many, let’s say a group of five or 10 maximum, it just demonstrates my love for racing, for F1, how much I enjoy this lifestyle, motor racing in general.

“I think that guy in 2001, I was not really thinking too much in the future. The dream was coming alive, driving [in] F1, the first race.

“I didn’t have a clear roadmap into my career. I didn’t know exactly what was the next race, what will be my next team. I was improvising [and] every weekend was a new adventure.

“What I would say is that when I won the championship in 2006 and then I joined McLaren, I had a three-year contract for 2007, ’08 and ’09, and I was 99% sure that 2009 would be my last F1 season.

“That was my very clear plan in my head.”

Alonso is currently in the ninth position in the Drivers' Standings with 62 points. He sits behind Red Bull driver Sergio Perez in eighth with 150 points but ahead of Haas's Nico Hulkenberg in tenth with 29 points.

2024 F1 Drivers' Championship: Current Standings

1. Max Verstappen - 354 points
2. Lando Norris - 297 points
3. Charles Leclerc - 275 points
4. Oscar Piastri - 247 points
5. Carlos Sainz - 215 points
6. Lewis Hamilton - 177 points
7. George Russell - 167 points
8. Sergio Perez - 150 points
9. Fernando Alonso - 62 points
10. Nico Hulkenberg - 29 points
11. Lance Stroll - 24 points
12. Yuki Tsunoda - 22 points
13. Alex Albon - 12 points
14. Daniel Ricciardo - 12 points
15. Kevin Magnussen - 8 points
16. Pierre Gasly - 8 points
17. Oliver Bearman - 7 points
18. Franco Colapinto - 5 points
19. Esteban Ocon - 5 points
20. Liam Lawson - 2 points
21. Zhou Guanyu - 0 points
22. Logan Sargeant - 0 points
23. Valtteri Bottas - 0 points