Budapest FP1

Just the perfect way for Fred Vesti to round off the first half of the Formula 1 season, as the Mercedes-AMG F1 Third Driver on Friday completed his second FP1 outing of 2026 at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

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"Following my FP1 in Barcelona, I received some really valuable feedback that I was able to build on heading into Budapest. I spent plenty of time in the simulator, but more importantly, I reminded myself that, in the real world, it's still a four-wheel racing car that has to be driven right on the limit. That was the goal in Budapest to push hard at a circuit I know incredibly well and where I've enjoyed a lot of success over the years. Needless to say, I was counting down the days until I got back in the car."

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Vesti's session began with a large aero rig fitted to the car, carrying hundreds of sensors designed to generate an enormous amount of data. The information gathered is then correlated with both wind tunnel results and simulator models to improve the team's understanding of the W17.

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"It's the kind of thing the engineers absolutely love, and it's incredibly important for the development of future upgrades on the W17. From a driver's perspective, though, it's far from ideal. The rig disrupts the car's aerodynamics and makes it much more difficult to drive. But that's an important part of the testing programme, and I was happy to contribute. Everything went according to plan. It took around 12 minutes to remove the rig, but we collected all the data we needed. After that, I went back out on the medium tire and completed a few more laps with the car in its normal configuration."

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The medium tire served as preparation for what Vesti had been looking forward to the most: the soft tire.

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"Running the softs was definitely the highlight because of the maximum grip. I was really looking forward to pushing on that compound. But the thing about this car is that it rewards finesse rather than aggression. The objective for this FP1 was to drive smoothly, cleanly and consistently."

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"I finished P7, just 0.4s behind George, despite it only being my second run on the soft tire in seven months. I consider that a success. I've received fantastic feedback from the team. They're very pleased with my performance, but at the same time they expect a great deal from me. Mercedes-AMG F1 isn't just any team on the grid. Being Third Driver for the Championship leading team naturally means the expectations are exceptionally high. But that's exactly what motivates me every single day to deliver even more whenever I get an opportunity and to keep developing as a racing driver."

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Vesti explained that he approaches the 2026 season as though he were already a full-time Formula 1 driver.

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"I basically prepare and work as if I'm already racing in Formula 1. That applies to the way I work with the team in the simulator, the way I approach driving the car, and the support I provide to the race drivers at every single Grand Prix weekend. By doing that, I'm making sure I'm ready for the Formula 1 seat I hope is waiting for me somewhere in the future."

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The remainder of the Budapest weekend was primarily spent supporting Mercedes-AMG F1's simulator operation back at Brackley. The weekend also included several discussions with the team as well as conversations with other teams regarding future opportunities.

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"I look back on this test with a great sense of satisfaction and even greater motivation for what's ahead. I honestly can't wait to get back behind the wheel after the summer break," concluded Vesti.

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Right after the Hungarian Grand Prix, Vesti jumps on a flight to the United States, where he will return to IMSA and Whelen Cadilac Racing next weekend on Road America for the 6 Hours race.