In the first practice of the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, FIA Formula 2 star Fredrik Vesti will take Lewis Hamilton’s place. But who is he? Why is he operating the W14, too?
All teams are required by rule to field a “rookie” driver at least twice in the course of the season.
Many teams have chosen to postpone fulfilling their need to run a rookie until Abu Dhabi, the season’s last race.
One of the teams fielding a rookie is Mercedes, as a driver from their junior program will take to the track on Friday.
Since 2021, the 21-year-old Dane has been a member of the Mercedes junior team.
After completing 124 laps in the W13 at the Abu Dhabi post-season test last year, he experienced his first proper taste of Formula One action.
Vesti’s racing history in recent years has primarily consisted of competing in F1 feeder categories.
With a dominant season in 2019, he impressively stormed to the Formula Regional European Championship.
He was promoted to F2 after two solid F3 campaigns in which he placed fourth overall both times.
With one win and a respectable ninth place finish in the final standings, his rookie F2 season was rather successful.
More impressively, this year has seen Theo Pourchaire face a genuine title challenge.
Despite two DNFs in the last three races, his chances of winning the title have diminished in recent F2 rounds.
