Fred Vesti describes the unconventional moment he joined Mercedes’ junior programme and why his F1 dream is still alive

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Mercedes Third Driver Fred Vesti has shared details on the “very different” way he entered Mercedes’ junior pathway, describing a moment that came long before his current role as the team’s reserve driver.

Speaking on the official Mercedes-linked podcast F1 Beyond the Grid, Vesti recalled being in his second season of Formula 3 in 2021 when he was signed up as a Mercedes Junior—an opportunity he says followed after he found a way to speak directly with Team Principal Toto Wolff at an event away from the racetrack. Vesti said he tracked Wolff at Hockenheim, then stopped him as Wolff moved through a social setting, asking how he could become a junior driver with Mercedes. Vesti framed the approach as a deliberate attempt to ask the question immediately, describing it as starting a conversation that matched his “vision” of becoming a Mercedes Junior all the way to Formula 1.

Vesti added that he believes the team values passion, and suggested that what helped him stand out was motivation he felt went beyond what Wolff had previously seen. He also pointed to the structure of the Mercedes Junior Programme at the time, saying there were only a small number of drivers involved—citing George Russell and a couple of others—as a factor that made the opportunity rare.

Since being signed by Mercedes, Vesti has progressed through the feeder series and, after finishing runner-up in the 2023 Formula 2 championship, took on a wider role with the team from 2024 onward. The Dane became a reserve driver, participating in FP1 sessions and performing extensive simulator work.

In that simulator role, Vesti said he supports both Russell and Kimi Antonelli, explaining that his task requires balancing different driving inputs. He described how Antonelli tends to bring “a lot of speed into the corner,” while Russell in some ways “focuses on the exit,” but Vesti cautioned that the relationship is not fixed and varies by weekend and even by corner.

Looking forward, Vesti said he remains focused on earning a Formula 1 seat despite the demands of his current job as third driver. He characterized the role as “unforgiving,” saying it helps “make champions” while not being a racing position for himself. Still, he insisted that Mercedes views him as a potential Formula 1 driver, pointing to the trust he says he has built through years of testing and preparation, and he said that confidence is central to whether he would be called upon to step in for Russell or Antonelli.

Vesti concluded by reiterating his ambition to race, win, and fight for championships, describing a strong personal conviction that a seat is coming and that he is “working so hard for it.”