Vesti set to drive Mercedes W14 at Mexican GP
1st August 2023Formula 2 championship contender Frederik Vesti is set to get behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team’s W14 at the Mexican Grand Prix, during the Free Practice 1 session.
In the opening 60-minute practice session, at Mexico’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Vesti will get his first proper taste of 2023 F1 machinery, behind the wheel of the W14, later on this year.
This will mark the first time he has driven an F1 car since he completed the end-of-season young drivers test, in Abu Dhabi, last season where he completed 124 laps in the W13.
On the news, Vesti said:
“I’m incredibly proud to be doing the FP1 session in Mexico City with the Team – it’s a dream come true. To think in less than two months that I’ll be doing my first official Formula One session with Mercedes, who have won eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships, is amazing.
“This has been my dream since I was very young and something I’ve been fighting for through my whole junior career. It’s taken a lot of hard work, and this is a very important step for me on my journey.
“To be able to develop myself in an F1 car alongside some of the best drivers in the world is something I’m looking forward to.
“I want to thank Mercedes for this incredible opportunity, as well as my sponsors and manager for always believing in me. I can’t wait to be driving W14 for the first time.”
Vesti will now fill in the first spot of Mercedes’ mandatory requirement to run a rookie driver in FP1. As per the requirements, all 10 teams need to run a rookie driver for at least two FP1 sessions across a single season.
Following the news, it remains unclear whose seat the Dane will take in the opening practice session in Mexico.
However, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team CEO and Team Principal, Toto Wolff, has welcomed Vesti’s opportunity. Wolff said:
“Fred has executed an impressive Formula 2 campaign so far this season. Driving in an FP1 session is the next step in his development and we’re looking forward to giving him that opportunity.
“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. I am sure he will perform well and provide a solid starting point for our work over the weekend.”
Vesti is currently sat in second place in the F2 drivers standings, as F1 heads into its Summer break, on 156 points.
Prior to the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix, at the end of August, Vesti has taken four F2 victories and three podium finishes this season, which included a win on the streets of Monaco.
The Dane was previously the championship leader before he suffered an untimely retirement in the category’s Belgian Grand Prix Feature Race where ART rival, Theo Pourchaire, took over as the championship leader with 168 points to his name.
That’s all for the article: Vesti set to drive Mercedes W14 at Mexican GP!
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