Mercedes has granted the 21-year-old Danish driver the opportunity to participate in their Mercedes W14 car during the rookie run in the first practice sessions on Friday. This will take place at the Mexico City race towards the end of October.
Vesti responded to the news by expressing immense pride in being able to participate in the FP1 session in Mexico City with the team, stating that it is a realization of a long-held dream.
It’s incredible to realize that in just under two months, I’ll have the opportunity to participate in my inaugural Formula 1 session alongside Mercedes, a team that has achieved eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships.
“I have put in a significant amount of effort, and this marks a crucial milestone in my personal progress.”
“I cannot reword”
“We are excited to provide him with the opportunity to drive in an FP1 session, which will further contribute to his growth and progress.”
“He is a talented young driver, not only quick but thoughtful, and he understands exactly what the team is looking for from him in the car.”
Podium: Race winner Jack Doohan, Invicta Virtuosi Racing, second place Frederik Vesti, Prema Racing, third place Victor Martins, ART Grand Prix
Photo by: Formula Motorsport Ltd
It will be Vesti’s second session in an F1 car, having also run for Mercedes in last year’s Abu Dhabi young driver test.
Vesti also conducts simulator work for Mercedes back at its Brackley headquarters.
Mercedes’ trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin expressed anticipation for Fred’s return to the car, as he performed exceptionally well in the previous year’s young driver test.
“He has demonstrated his abilities in F2 this year, showcasing a blend of impressive speed and reliability.”
Fred has been a valuable member of our team for many years, contributing significantly to the development and establishment of our simulator. As a result, we are excited to provide him with the opportunity to participate in his inaugural F1 session during a Grand Prix weekend.
Vesti, who races for Prema in F2, finishes the first half of the season in second position. However, he lost his position as the championship leader to Theo Pourchaire during the Spa race.
He had an accident while heading to the grid for the main race on Sunday, which resulted in him being unable to begin the race.
Vesti, who has achieved four victories in 2023, currently lags behind Pourchaire, the ART Grand Prix driver and Alfa Romeo reserve, by a margin of 12 points in the rankings.
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