Wednesday (the 28th) of Formula 1 brought as its main novelty the renewal of Sergio Pérez with Cadillac through 2029, while Kimi Antonelli prepares for the possibility of clinching the world title at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The day also brought significant changes at Audi, news involving young drivers, and Lewis Hamilton’s comments about Ferrari’s future.
The Cadillac confirmed Pérez’s stay on a multi-year contract that extends to the 2029 season. The announcement occurred precisely during the week when the Mexican is gearing up to race in his 300th Grand Prix in Formula 1, in front of his fans at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The renewal guarantees continuity for the American manufacturer’s project, which bets on the driver’s experience to progress after his first year in the sport.
In Mercedes, the focus is on a potential double feat in Mexico. Antonelli needs only two points to mathematically secure his first Drivers’ World Championship, after winning nine races in 2026. The Italian has already revealed that he intends to continue using the number 12 in 2027, even if he is entitled to the number 1 reserved for the champion. The choice also harkens back to Ayrton Senna, who used the numeral during part of his Formula 1 career.
The German team also has a chance to clinch the Constructors’ World Championship early, but the scenario is more complex. With 607 points, compared to Ferrari’s 474, it must extend its lead from 133 to at least 172 points. A double podium, for example, would only guarantee the title if the Italian rival finished with at most four points.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton stated that Ferrari is going through a pivotal moment in decisions about the 2027 car. The Briton is directly involved in discussions about chassis, aerodynamics, and the power unit, aiming to correct deficiencies that prevented the team from keeping pace with Mercedes and Red Bull with greater consistency. For Hamilton, small balance and performance adjustments could make a meaningful difference in the coming season.
Another important move took place at Audi, which announced Thomas Fuhr as the new CEO of its Formula 1 project. The German will assume the role on November 1, bringing three decades of international engineering and leadership experience to a team that sits eighth in the Constructors’ Championship in its debut season.
The Mexico City Grand Prix will also feature a strong presence of young drivers in the TL1. Alpine confirmed Gabriele Mini in Franco Colapinto’s car, while Racing Bulls announced Nikola Tsolov. Other names expected for the session include Ayumu Iwasa for Red Bull, Leonardo Fornaroli for McLaren, Luke Browning for Williams, Frederik Vesti for Mercedes, and Colton Herta for Cadillac.
Off the track, Lando Norris also drew attention with the confirmation of LN4 Fusion on the Formula 2 grid in 2027. The team linked to the McLaren driver will take over the seat previously held by AIX Racing, expanding a project that already had a guaranteed presence in Formula 3. The drivers for the new F2 outfit have not yet been announced.
Thus, Formula 1 ends the Wednesday with important decisions for the future of Cadillac, Audi, and Ferrari, while the Mexico City Grand Prix approaches with the possibility of Antonelli securing his first world title. Track action begins on Friday (the 30th), ahead of Sunday’s race (November 1).
