F1
Drugovich to step in for Alonso at Mexico City GP free practice session
Felipe, Aston Martin’s test and reserve driver, will take part in the first practice sessions at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit later this month.
Felipe Drugovich will take part in the first free practice session of the Mexico City GP at the end of this month. The Aston Martin test and reserve driver will be driving Fernando Alonso’s car, meaning the Spaniard will have to wait until the afternoon to take part in his first practice session.
The 24-year-old will complete his first laps at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, in a session that will last 60 minutes and which corresponds to the rule that Formula 1 introduced a few years ago, by which the official drivers have to give up their seat to the rookies in order to contest two FP1 sessions each season with their cars. For Drugovich, it will be his F1 debut, driving for the first time in the AMR24, a car that he has helped develop with his immense work in the simulator at the team’s Technology Campus.
Drugovich delighted to be given run-out in Mexico
Felipe thanked in the team’s statement: “I’m really excited to drive the AMR24 for the first time, I’ve been waiting for it for a while! I’ve spent much of the year working on the development of this car in the team’s simulator, so it will be an invaluable experience for me to feel the correlation between the simulator and reality.
“The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a circuit I have not driven on before. It’s a challenging circuit with a mix of long straights and technical corners, so I will be spending time in the simulator before the event to be ready for FP1. I would like to thank Aston Martin Aramco for trusting me with this opportunity, as well as Banco Master for their continued support”.
Aston Martin indicated that his second appearance will take place later in the the season at one of the four remaining races (São Paulo, Las Vegas, Qatar or the Abu Dhabi).
Team principal Mike Krack is also delighted to be able to count on the Brazilian for these first free practice sessions of the Mexico City GP: “We are excited to give Felipe this first opportunity to drive the AMR24 during Free Practice One in Mexico City. Felipe is regularly at Silverstone in our simulator, contributing to the development of this car with his detailed and thoughtful feedback, so it will be a rewarding experience for him to get out on track in Mexico.
“During the session, Felipe will work on the team’s race plan, gathering vital data to support our decision-making for the rest of the weekend and assisting with the set-up of the car,” Krack explained.