Mercedes driver eyeing big F1 promotion as talks over team switch confirmed

Mercedes F1 reserve driver Frederik Vesti has confirmed that he is in discussions over a full-time seat for 2027.

Vesti made the reveal at the Mexican Grand Prix, where he replaced George Russell in FP1 and set the third-fastest time of the session.

The Danish driver is a former runner-up in F2 and has been a Mercedes test or reserve driver every season since 2023. Alongside those duties, he has continued racing in other series, first in European Le Mans and later in IMSA.

Now, it appears Vesti has his eyes on a full-time F1 drive, specifically the one currently occupied by Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac.

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Fred Vesti confirms talks over F1 drive

There is, of course, already a connection between Vesti and the Cadillac brand, with the Danish star driving for Cadillac Whelen in IMSA.

With doubts over whether or not Bottas will be with Cadillac in F1 next year, Vesti made it clear it's something he has his eye on.

"I'm hugely privileged to be working with two awesome manufacturers, Mercedes and Cadillac," Vesti told Sky Sports F1.

"Obviously, racing with them in sports cars, they've had the chance for two years to see what I can do. This year, we were drivers' champions, team champions, manufacturers' champion in IMSA, and that really shows the level we're operating at.

"But to have two manufacturers working together like that for a driver is very, very special and very rare, and there's no doubt, I have all my eyes on that seat, and it would be such a privilege to step into that."

In a separate interview, Vesti even confirmed that talks were ongoing about stepping up to full-time racing in F1, presumably at Cadillac.

"The timing, it couldn't be better, to be honest," Vesti said.

"There are discussions about a seat, and I've got my eyes on that seat.

"I believe I would be very, very good in that car, and to be in Formula 1 has been my goal ever since I started driving. So I'm more motivated than ever, and I'm extremely hungry to make it onto the grid."

Russell backs Vesti for F1

Mercedes team-mate George Russell certainly thinks that Vesti is deserving of being in F1, with the Brit impressed by what he has seen from the Dane so far.

“He did a really good job [in FP1],” said Russell. “I know he's really fighting hard to be in with a shot potentially of the Cadillac seat, and I think he deserves his chance.

“He's put a lot of effort into working with our team; we all respect him very highly. Most FP1 sessions that he's done, he's had the brunt of the work and not really getting performance runs in.

“So I think it was important for us as a team, and I said to the team, 'I want to ensure that he gets an opportunity to show what he can do, that's the least that we could do', so yeah, that was nice.”

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