Felipe Drugovich is set to drive Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin during opening practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix later this month.
Aston Martin test and reserve driver Felipe Drugovich is set to make his much-anticipated debut in the AMR24 during the FP1 session at the upcoming Mexico City Grand Prix.
Scheduled for October 27, this outing marks a significant milestone in the Brazilian driver’s career as he will have the opportunity to drive a Formula 1 car in a competitive environment for the first time this season.
The team plans for Drugovich to follow a structured run plan during FP1, which will involve collecting vital data that will inform their strategy for the remainder of the race weekend.
The practice session is also particularly important as it fulfills part of Aston Martin’s requirement to run a rookie driver in two FP1 sessions throughout the season.
Having joined Aston Martin shortly after clinching the 2022 Formula 2 championship, Drugovich has been an integral part of the team’s development efforts, particularly through his extensive simulator work at their headquarters in Silverstone.
The 24-year old’s contributions have been pivotal in shaping the AMR24, and this practice session will allow him to experience firsthand how his simulator feedback translates into real-world performance on track.
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, known for its unique blend of long straights and technical corners, presents a challenging layout that Drugovich has yet to navigate. This unfamiliarity adds an extra layer of complexity to his upcoming outing but the young driver is ready.
“I’m really excited to drive the AMR24 for the first time – I’ve been looking forward to it for a while!” said Drugovich.
“Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is a track I haven’t driven before. It’s a challenging circuit with a mix of long straights and technical corners.
“So I’ll be spending time on the simulator ahead of the event so that I’m ready to go come FP1.”
Aston Martin’s Team Principal, Mike Krack, expressed enthusiasm about Drugovich’s opportunity: “We’re excited to give Felipe this first opportunity to drive the AMR24 during Free Practice 1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
“Felipe is regularly in Silverstone on our simulator, contributing towards 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 be working his way through the team’s run plan, collecting vital data to support our decision-making throughout the rest of the weekend and aiding with the set-up of the car.”
Drugovich’s outing in Mexico will be his fourth official FP1 session with Aston Martin, following previous appearances in Abu Dhabi and Italy last season.
Last month Drugovich did a private IndyCar test with Chip Ganassi Racing at Barber Motorsports Park, completing over 100 laps on his first ever day in an Indy car. His experiences so far have equipped him with a solid foundation of knowledge about F1 operations and car dynamics.
The decision for Fernando Alonso to step aside for the young driver during this session reflects both strategic planning and a commitment to fostering new talent within the sport.
The arrangement allows the experienced two-time world champion to contribute his knowledge while simultaneously providing Drugovich with invaluable experience on track before returning to the car for the rest of the weekend.
