From the Track to Triathlons: Frederik Vesti’s Grueling Summer Challenge

While Formula 1 shut down for summer, Frederik Vesti went full throttle in a very different arena: triathlons and a half-Ironman. What began as a bold experiment quickly turned into one of the toughest—and most rewarding—challenges of his career. 

When the F1 season paused, most drivers opted for rest and relaxation. Not Frederik Vesti. The Mercedes-AMG F1 reserve driver traded racing overalls for running shoes and a wetsuit, determined to test himself in an entirely new way. 

A keen runner and cyclist, Vesti saw triathlons as a natural next step. The only catch? He signed up before he even knew how to swim properly. 

"

The T100 in London on August 10 was an absolutely fantastic experience. I treated it as my preparation race for the half-Ironman in France two weeks later. For me, the T100 was simply my sprint before the main event—if I stick to racing terminology! It was my first-ever competition outside of a car, and of course I loved it. I got hooked straight away.

"

The event saw Vesti complete a 1.5 km swim in the Thames, a 40 km bike ride through central London down to Big Ben, and a 10 km run to the finish. He even brought along a familiar face. 

"

I secretly signed up my good racing friend Olli Caldwell without telling him. Maybe he regretted it during the race, but definitely not afterwards! Experiencing it together was incredible. The atmosphere was amazing. I finished in 2 hours and 33 seconds and placed 190th out of 1,600 athletes, which was way better than I expected. I’m proud of that.

"

The Half-Ironman Test

If the London triathlon was tough, the Ironman 70.3 in France proved a whole new level. The challenge: 1.9 km swimming, 90 km cycling, and a half-marathon to close. 

"

It was amazing and awful all at once! Pushing yourself for 5 hours and 51 minutes, knowing you’re not done until you cross the line, is a feeling worth getting comfortable with. I made the rookie mistake of thinking the run would take care of itself. Most of my training had focused on cycling and especially swimming, so I didn’t manage my energy perfectly at the end. But I still came in under six hours, which was my goal.

"

2500 athletes had signed up for the half-ironman and with 35 spots at stake for the 2026 World Championship. Vesti's overall rank was 1031.

Why No Holiday?

Many wonder why Vesti didn’t just take a normal summer break. But the Dane says the answer is simple.

"

For me, it’s about keeping myself going. Competition is everything. There’s no better feeling than giving absolutely everything you’ve got against others—and simply wanting to be the best. That’s what drives me, both in everyday life and on the racetrack.

"

The mental lessons, he believes, translate directly to racing.

"

You learn about never giving up, about pushing through the pain and giving 100% no matter what. Sometimes in the car you need that same feeling—that you just keep fighting and fighting, even when it looks bad and everything hurts. That’s when you really grow.

"

And as for those who doubted his decision to dive in without being able to swim?

"

Yes, I couldn’t swim properly when I signed up. But that was just another challenge. In the end, I had the last laugh.

"

Back To Racing

With summer fitness challenges complete, Vesti is back in his natural environment: behind the wheel. This week, he is testing with Cadillac at Road Atlanta in the U.S. before heading straight to Monza for four days of work with Mercedes-AMG F1.