Vesti in at Mercedes for Bahrain GP FP1 outing

Frederik Vesti will participate in Free Follow 1 with Mercedes at System 1’s Bahrain Grand Prix, driving George Russell’s W16.

A System Regional European champion in 2019 and System 2 runner-up in 2023, Vesti has been on Mercedes’ books since 2021, presently appearing because the crew’s reserve driver alongside Valtteri Bottas – on prime of his racing commitments within the IMSA SportsCar Championship with Cadillac.

F1 rules state that groups should run rookies – drivers who’ve competed in two grands prix at most – twice in every of their automobiles over the 2025 season’s grand prix weekends.

Debutant Andrea Kimi Antonelli has already fulfilled this requirement in Melbourne and Shanghai on his aspect of the storage, and Vesti is ready to do likewise with, at first, his Bahrain look.

“I’m actually trying ahead to getting my first style of the W16 in FP1 in Bahrain,” the 23-year-old Dane mentioned. “With the ability to put all of my simulator work into observe on the monitor is a extremely thrilling prospect for me.

“In the beginning of the 12 months, I set myself the purpose of maximising each probability I get behind the wheel of an F1 automotive in 2025, and that’s what I hope to attain in Bahrain. I shall be doing the whole lot I can to assist the crew, George, and Kimi get set for the remainder of the weekend.

“I’m grateful to Mercedes for as soon as once more giving me this chance.”

Comparable guidelines beforehand allowed Vesti to drive Mercedes’ W14 automotive in FP1 on the Mexico Metropolis and Abu Dhabi grands prix in 2023, whereas final 12 months the required periods had been given to incoming racer Antonelli.

At the least two different rookies will participate in FP1 at Sakhir, with Ferrari protege Dino Beganovic driving Charles Leclerc’s SF-25 equipment, whereas Oliver Bearman will cede his Haas automotive to Ryo Hirakawa following the latter’s current change from Alpine.