Carlos Sainz has withdrawn from his planned media appearances on the eve of the São Paulo Grand Prix after falling ill.

The Spaniard, who joined Williams this season, was due to face both print and broadcast journalists at the Interlagos circuit on Thursday. However, the team has announced that he will stay at the hotel to recover, with hopes that he will be fit enough to take part in the remainder of the weekend.

“Unfortunately, Carlos is unwell and will not be coming to the track today, so all mandatory media slots will be cancelled,” a Williams spokesperson confirmed.

It is not the first time illness has disrupted Sainz’s racing schedule. Last season, he was forced to miss the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after suffering from appendicitis, with reserve driver Oliver Bearman stepping in for Ferrari and finishing an impressive seventh on his Formula 1 debut.

Williams has not indicated any changes to its driver lineup for São Paulo, but Sainz’s condition will continue to be monitored ahead of Friday’s sprint qualifying session.

Special livery for São Paulo

Williams will still attract plenty of attention in Brazil, as the team and partner Gulf have unveiled a special one-off livery titled “Driven by Words”, celebrating the passion of racing fans worldwide.

The design incorporates 493 words submitted by fans that represent what Williams and Gulf mean to them. More than 140,000 votes were cast to select the final words, with “Legacy”, “Passion” and “Teamwork” among the most popular choices.