Danish F2 driver Frederik Vesti set to drive for Mercedes at the post-season Young Driver test in Ab
Frederik Vesti is a Danish racing driver and a member of the Mercedes junior team. Vesti has competed in various junior categories, and was also the inaugural winner of the Formula Regional European Championship in 2019. The Silver Arrows signed him for their driver academy in 2021. The Danish driver is currently competing in Formula 2 for ART Grand Prix with one race win to his name.
The post-season test at Abu Dhabi will provide the teams with the opportunity to test the 2023 Pirelli rubber. Two cars will be run by each team, one for the race drivers, while the other car shall be driven by rookies classified as drivers with no more than two Grand Prix starts. The test is crucial for the teams to get a better understanding of the tyres before the winter while also providing young talent to showcase their skills to the teams.
Mercedes F1 team previously had Nyck De Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne, the drivers for the company’s Formula E team as the reserve and test drivers. However, Nyck De Vries is set to leave the German team at the end of the season as he joins the Alpha Tauri F1 team for next year. While Vandoorne has shifted to a reserve driver role at Aston Martin for 2023.
“It’s an incredible sign of trust” – Frederik Vesti on being chosen for the Young Driver Test
Hence the Silver Arrows decided to have Frederik Vesti fill the rookie spot for the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi. Giving the Dane his first outing in an F1 car, more specifically the W13 Mercedes of this season. Vesti has previously done simulator running for the team and with the De Vries and Vandoorne leaving the team, the Dane is likely to do more extensive runs for the team.
Vesti was delighted by the team’s decision and hopes to keep the team’s faith by delivering a solid performance. Post announcement, Frederik said in a tweet, “It’s an incredible sign of trust” as he understands the significance of getting a shot to drive a Formula 1 car, the first step towards a potential full-time seat in the distant future.
Frederik is the most qualified young driver in the Brackley-based team’s roster, and this test would be beneficial for the Dane to understand the working of the car in the real world while also demonstrating his pace in an F1 car to the team. The team can analyze his lap times and correlate his pace to the main drivers. Which might solidify his place if and when The Silver Arrows need a replacement for its drivers.
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