THREE MEXICO FP1 CHANGES WITH HIGH DRIVER MARKET STAKES

Colton Herta is one superlicence point away from eligibility to replace Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac in 2027, and Friday's Mexico FP1 session should close that gap. The mandated 100 kilometers will get him there—Cadillac will ensure it happens regardless—but this run is about proving he deserves the seat over contenders Frederik Vesti and Yuki Tsunoda. His simulator work is starting to show on track. It's one of three FP1 swaps with real driver market weight: F2 contender Nikola Tsolov makes his Racing Bulls debut chasing a Red Bull path that Lawson and Lindblad have likely blocked for 2027, while Audi junior Freddie Slater gets his first F1 laps in a longer development play. For Herta, 100 kilometers in Mexico's thin air stands between now and a real shot at F1.

BOT, OCT 30, 2026THE RACE