Frederik Vesti to take part in post-season Abu Dhabi test

Mercedes junior driver Frederik Vesti will be taking part in the post-season Abu Dhabi test, the German Formula One (F1) team have confirmed.

The young Dane, who joined the Mercedes young driver programme ahead of the 2021 season, finished fourth in the Formula 3 standings last year and is currently racing in Formula 2 with ART Grand Prix. He took his maiden F2 win this year at the Baku Sprint Race.

Vesti is currently eighth in the F2 championship heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi. He is set to drive for Prema in the 2023 Formula 2 season. He also won the inaugural Formula Regional European Championship with Prema in 2019. 

With Mercedes confirming Vesti for the post-season test at the Yas Marina circuit, the team have fulfilled their young driver obligation. 

Nyck de Vries, Mercedes’ reserve driver, already filled in for the rookie fulfilments in 2022 after appearing at FP1 sessions in France and Mexico, but with the Dutchman having secured a spot with AlphaTauri for 2022, he won’t be available for the post-season test, giving the opportunity to test Vesti in Formula One machinery. 

The post-season test, which will be held on November 22 and 23 after the 2022 Formula One season finale in Abu Dhabi, will see Vesti drive the W13 on the rookie day of the test.