Formula 2 championship is coming to its end. There is one driver who has proven his skills more than anyone else. His name is Frederik Vesti.
The Dane is only 21 years old, but he is already in his second season in Formula 2. Vesti started racing at the age of 10, and he has won many Danish kart competitions, before moving on to Formula 4. The most important victory came in 2019 when Vesti took part in the inaugural season of the Regional Formula European. Racing for the Italian team “Prema Racing” Vesti dominated that field with 13 wins, six of which achieved back-to-back.
The relationship with the Prema continued for 2020. He was announced to the Formula 3 lineup to compete alongside Oscar Piastri and Logan Sargeant.
However, in Formula 3, despite a fierce fight for the championship, the hoped results did not come. He won three races and finished fourth, behind teammate and champion Oscar Piastri.
The step up in Formula 2
Finally, in 2022 he switched to Formula 2, driving for ART Grand Prix, with which he raced in 2021 in Formula 3. The 2022 season was characterized by ups and downs for Vesti. His first victory was in Baku, where he took advantage of the chaos created by a safety car. However, the second half of the season was mostly spent out of the points.
But this year, things for Vesti seem to have changed. At the end of the 2022 Formula 2 championship in Abu Dhabi, it was announced that Vesti would’ve returned to Prema Racing; alongside the rookie Oliver Bearman.
Vesti explained that despite his experience in ART Grand Prix taught him a lot, returning to Prema was like coming home. The results of this comeback are clear. In 2023, despite the bad start for the Prema drivers, Vesti has learned a lot and found the right feeling with the car.
At more than half a season Vesti has already taken home four victories, and he’s the leader of the championship, with 153 points. After a bad weekend at Silverstone, his leadership seemed to be threatened by Pourchaire. However, in Hungary, he reached the podium. A second place was enough to increase his distance from Frenchman.
Senior driver on the Mercedes Junior Team
Vesti’s willpower and skills are qualities that were noticed by Toto Woolf in 2021. That year Vesti was added to the Mercedes junior program, which he is still part of.
“I’ve dreamed of being a Mercedes junior and worked so hard for it, for so many years and that motivation has lifted me every single day,” Vesti said.
The program was born in 2016 to support the careers of young motorsport talents. It’s one of the most coveted programs, and Vesti wants to prove that he has what it takes to be a part of it.
Great job, Fred!! 👏 P2 in the @Formula2 Feature Race for our Junior Driver. 🥈 pic.twitter.com/xFuPUYjsxb
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) July 23, 2023
In Abu Dhabi, at the end of the 2022 season, Vesti had the opportunity to drive the W13. It was his first time driving a Formula 1 car. He thanked the team and the sponsors who allowed him to have this opportunity. He was recently invited to the Mercedes garage to watch the Formula 1 Hungarian GP alongside Toto Wolff.
In addition, Vesti often trains with the Formula 1 simulator at the Mercedes headquarters in Brackley.
Vesti’s career has been marked by ups and downs; now he is closer than ever to making this season a title-winning one. But in the end, will he have what it takes to make it to Formula 1?
