In the Mexico City Grand Prix this Friday, the FP1 event will take place at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez Circuit. Before the 2022 season, a new rule was announced, requiring each driver to hand their car over for a Free Practice session to a rookie driver who hasn’t competed in more than two Grand Prix. So here’s what we know about the FP1 session that’ll take place two days before the race.
At the moment, Alfa Romeo, Alpine, Mercedes, AlphaTauri, and Haas, along with their reserve drivers, will compete in the first practice session in Mexico City.
- This year, Frederik Vesti, a junior driver for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, will take part in FP1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix. At the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the 21-year-old driver will drive the W14 for the first time during the first 60-minute session of the weekend.
- Vesti is currently ranked second in the 2023 F2 Championship during his sophomore year in the class. This will be his second time driving an F1 car, taking into consideration his 124-lap experience from last year in Abu Dhabi.
The Dane said: “I’m incredibly proud to be doing the FP1 session in Mexico City with the Team – it’s a dream come true. To think in less than two months that I’ll be doing my first official Formula One session with Mercedes, who have won eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships, is amazing.”
He then continued his words saying:
“This has been my dream since I was very young and something I’ve been fighting for through my whole junior career. It’s taken a lot of hard work, and this is a very important step for me on my journey. To be able to develop myself in an F1 car alongside some of the best drivers in the world is something I’m looking forward to. I want to thank Mercedes for this incredible opportunity, as well as my sponsors and manager for always believing in me. I can’t wait to be driving W14 for the first time.”
Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, commented: “Fred has executed an impressive Formula 2 campaign so far this season. Driving in an FP1 session is the next step in his development and we’re looking forward to giving him that opportunity. He is a talented young driver, not only quick but thoughtful, and he understands exactly what the Team is looking for from him in the car. I am sure he will perform well and provide a solid starting point for our work over the weekend.”
Photo Credit: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
- Four-time race winner in the 2023 FIA Formula 2 Championship and member of the Ferrari Driver Academy Oliver Bearman will be making his Formula 1 debut with the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team when he drives the VF-23 during the two FP1 races scheduled for the Mexican Grand Prix. Currently, the 18-year-old is racing in his first F2 season with Prema Racing. As of now, he is sixth overall in the championship. The Brit is seen as a huge talent for the future.
“I am so happy to be joining MoneyGram Haas F1 Team driving in Mexico and Abu Dhabi, Getting to Formula 1 has been my dream since I was go-karting so to be driving a car for the first time this year is really special. I’m grateful to the team, and of course Ferrari, for allowing me this chance. I’m working hard to make sure I’m ready to support the team as best I can on both occasions,” the British driver stated.
Moreover, Guenther Steiner, Team Principal of MoneyGram Haas F1 Team also commented: “We’re very happy to offer Oliver Bearman these outings in Mexico and Abu Dhabi, He’s had a stellar rookie season in Formula 2, four wins is testament to that, and as part of the Ferrari Driver Academy – we know his background preparation coming into these weekends will be first-rate. We look forward to welcoming Oliver into the team and have him drive the VF-23.”
Photo Credit: MoneyGram Haas F1 Team
- Moving forward with the BWT Alpine F1 Team, at the FP1 on Friday in Mexico, Jack Doohan is going to drive Pierre Gasly’s A523. Next, he’ll head to the racetrack in Esteban Ocon’s car for the Abu Dhabi season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit. The Australian driver has previously taken part in two F1 rookie Free Practice sessions, doing so in Mexico City and Abu Dhabi in 2022, each time behind the wheel of the A522.
- The Alpine Academy’s driver has plenty of experience in F1 machinery, having tested the race-winning A521 in his Reserve Driver test program this season at a range of F1 venues and supporting the team on the Enstone simulator through race weekends.
- Doohan sits P4 in the 2023 F2 standings ahead of the finale in Abu Dhabi.
“It is a huge honour to be given the opportunity to drive a Formula 1 car on a Grand Prix weekend for the second year in a row. I am very grateful to BWT Alpine F1 Team for the chance to drive the A523 in Free Practice in both Mexico and Abu Dhabi. My sole focus is doing what is required of me by the team in order to contribute positively to the team’s outcome across the two Grand Prix weekends,” the son of motorcycle legend Mick Doohan said.
Interim Team Principal Bruno Famin added: “It is great to announce that Jack will be taking over driving duties in Mexico and Abu Dhabi for the two Free Practice 1 sessions. Jack has worked hard over the course of the year as BWT Alpine F1 Team’s Reserve Driver and his attitude to learn the ropes in that role has been very pleasing to see. His main priority remains finishing his Formula 2 campaign in the best possible way in Abu Dhabi, however, we look forward to supporting him in the two Free Practice sessions and having his contribution to the team’s performance.”
Photo Credit: BWT Alpine F1 Team
- Regarding Scuderia AlphaTauri, Isack Hadjar, who is currently racing for Hitech Pulse-Eight in the 2023 Formula 2 Championship, will make his first appearance in free practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix in 2023 as a means to fulfill the mandatory rookie driver requirement.
“I’m super excited to be driving in FP1, but at the same time, I’m a bit apprehensive, as I’ve never driven a Formula 1 car. To do so for the first time at an official practice session for a Grand Prix is quite something. The team has not set me any targets, so I don’t feel under any particular pressure, and I think I’m as well prepared as I can be. After Daniel was injured and Liam stepped in, I did a lot more work in the simulator to help the race drivers prepare, so I have a good understanding of how all the controls in the cockpit work. I’ve spent time in Faenza getting to know the team, and the engineer who will work with me in FP1 was also with me at the sim, so we know one another already.
“The altitude in Mexico means this is an unusual track to drive with less downforce than usual, but I can’t wait to get in the car and do my best for the team. Since I started karting as a young child, I have dreamed of being in Formula 1, and I want to thank Scuderia AlphaTauri and Red Bull for giving me this great opportunity,” said the French driver, expressing his excitement about this being his first time officially driving an F1 car.
Photo Credit: Scuderia AlphaTauri
- Last but not least, Theo Pourchaire of the Sauber Driver Academy will be taking part in free practice sessions for the Alfa Romeo F1 Team just like he did the previous year. During a private test session at the Hungaroring, Pourchaire made his first appearance in Formula 1 testing the 2019 Alfa Romeo C38.
- In 2021 at Monaco, the now 20-year-old driver became F2’s youngest polesitter and race winner. He won the Feature Race from pole position and moved on to add a further two podium finishes, including a win, to finish fifth in the standings.
- Heading into the final round of the 2023 F2 season, he leads the championship from Mercedes junior Frederik Vesti by 25 points.
Photo Credit: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake
