The opening practice session of the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix will witness Frederik Vesti stepping into the W17 cockpit, temporarily replacing George Russell to fulfill Formula 1's mandatory rookie practice requirements. Teams are obligated to run four rookie sessions over the course of the season, allocating two outings to each race car.
For Vesti, this outing at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez marks his third appearance behind the wheel of a Mercedes challenger during the 2026 campaign. Having previously participated in FP1 sessions at Barcelona and Hungary utilizing Kimi Antonelli's machinery, the upcoming Mexico session represents his very first opportunity to pilot Russell's specific car setup.
Expressing his gratitude ahead of the weekend, Vesti shared his excitement about returning to an official F1 race weekend environment. “On Friday in Mexico City, I’ll be doing FP1 in George’s W17. So, huge thank you to George for letting me drive your car,” Vesti stated, highlighting the collaborative spirit within the Brackley-based squad.
The young charger also emphasized the importance of adapting quickly to the technical updates introduced by the team since his last outing. “The last time I drove was in Budapest, so a lot has happened on this car since. So I can’t wait to feel W17 once again. Thank you to the team for letting me drive, it means a lot. So let’s go do it. See you in Mexico,” he added.
Mercedes deputy technical director Simone Resta praised the exceptional value that Vesti brings to the development program. Resta pointed out that utilizing the team's reserve driver for these mandated sessions serves as a vital bridge connecting real-world on-track telemetry with the virtual simulation world back at the factory.
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