Mercedes has introduced that Components 2 title contender Frederik Vesti will make his FP1 debut for the workforce on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix later this yr.

Groups are nonetheless mandated to run a rookie on two events in FP1s through the season, however solely McLaren, Williams and AlphaTauri – via rookie race drivers Oscar Piastri, Logan Sargeant and Nyck de Vries – have up to now accomplished one of many two classes courtesy of the season opener in Bahrain. Mercedes has turn into the primary workforce to announce a future run, with Vesti – who led the F2 championship till crashing on the best way to the grid earlier than the characteristic race in Spa – within the automobile in Mexico.

“I’m extremely proud to be doing the FP1 session in Mexico Metropolis with the workforce – it’s a dream come true,” Vesti stated. “To assume in lower than three months that I’ll be doing my first official Components 1 session with Mercedes, who’ve received eight consecutive constructors’ championships, is superb.

“This has been my dream since I used to be very younger and one thing I’ve been combating for via my entire junior profession. It’s taken a number of onerous work, and it is a essential step for me on my journey.

“To have the ability to develop myself in an F1 automobile alongside a number of the greatest drivers on this planet is one thing I’m trying ahead to. I need to thank Mercedes for this unbelievable alternative, in addition to my sponsors and supervisor for all the time believing in me. I can’t wait to be driving W14 for the primary time.”

Vesti is presently second within the F2 championship – 12 factors behind Theo Pourchaire – and the Mercedes junior took half within the younger driver check in Abu Dhabi final yr, with workforce principal Toto Wolff saying an FP1 is a pure development.

“Fred has executed a powerful Components 2 marketing campaign up to now this season,” Wolff stated. “Driving in an FP1 session is the following step in his improvement and we’re trying ahead to giving him that chance. He’s a gifted younger driver, not solely fast however considerate, and he understands precisely what the workforce is on the lookout for from him within the automobile. I’m positive he’ll carry out effectively and supply a stable place to begin for our work over the weekend.”

Vesti has additionally labored with Mercedes at its manufacturing facility as one of many workforce’s simulator drivers alongside Mick Schumacher, and trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin believes that function will likely be boosted by the expertise of the present automobile.

“Fred acquitted himself faultlessly within the younger driver check final yr so we’re trying ahead to having him within the automobile as soon as once more,” Shovlin stated. “He’s proven what he’s able to in F2 this yr, combining robust tempo with consistency. Fred has been a part of the workforce for a number of years now and has been a key a part of our simulator improvement and set-up programme.

“We’re subsequently trying ahead to giving him his first operating in an F1 session on a grand prix weekend; that will likely be one other helpful step in his improvement and show helpful in having the ability to correlate the real-world automobile together with his work again in Brackley. I’m positive he’ll benefit from the expertise.