During the upcoming Grand Prix weekend in Mexico City, many new faces will be behind the wheel during the first free practice. After Red Bull, Ferrari, Williams, and Aston Martin had already confirmed that they would be placing rookies in their cars during the first practice hour on Friday, Mercedes is now also letting regular driver George Russell sit out for an hour. Frederik ‘Fred’ Vesti – test and reserve driver for the Silver Arrows – will then take the Brit’s place in the W16.
This is not the first time Fred Vesti has stepped into a Mercedes car this year. The Dane was previously allowed to drive George Russell’s W16 in Bahrain. According to Formula 1 regulations, every driver must give up their car to a rookie twice during a season for a first free practice. After the GP Mexico, Mercedes has also met this requirement with driver Russell. Teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli was still a rookie during the first two Grands Prix of the year, so the young Italian no longer needs to give up his W16.
Multiple Rookies in Mexico
Vesti is far from the only rookie who will be driving at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez VT1. Red Bull had previously confirmed that Max Verstappen will be handing over his RB21 to Arvid Lindblad, and that Ferrari will be putting Antonio Fuoco in the SF-25. In addition, Carlos Sainz will have to make way at Williams for Formula 2 driver Luke Browning, and Jak Crawford will take Lance Stroll’s place in the Aston Martin car.
