PREPARATIONS FOR FRIDAY

3,000 laps in the world's most advanced F1 simulator at Mercedes' HQ in Brackley. This is what Vesti has endured and been up to since the last race weekend in F2 in Monza back in September.

The preparation is at its peak when Vesti gets behind the wheel of George Russel's W14 racer next to Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes garage on Friday in Mexico. Here, Vesti gets his first official F1 session during Friday's Free Practice ahead of Mexico's Grand Prix.

One hour in the car. That's what it's all about. Nevertheless, it has taken 6 weeks to get Vesti ready. Not because he's in bad shape. The exact opposite. But because it's F1. Because it is physically far more demanding than what Vesti is used to from F2. F1 is simply a whole other ballgame!

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There is a reason why, at this level, we have a full-time coach employed, who is constantly pushing me to my limit and beyond every single day and keeping me sharp as a tack. John Noonan follows me around the world at every single race and is a decisive factor in the fact that I feel super well prepared and ready for the task ahead and particularly this upcoming Friday in Mexico - for me one of the biggest moments of my life. My neck has never been stronger.

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For weeks, Vesti has also been doing altitude training at Bedford University in the UK to prepare for a circuit situated at an altitude of 2,500 metres.

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It has been a new and wildly exciting experience for me to both feel, learn and understand all the physiological things that happen in the body at a much higher altitude than I'm used to. I know everything about G forces. This is something completely different, so I have been discovering a new gear on my bike that I didn't know existed. What can seem like "excessive preparations" to outsiders is not something I detest or wish I could somehow shy away from. I simply love every minute. How lucky and very fortunate I am to be given this amazing opportunity! All the technical knowledge and understanding so critical in order to be able to deliver on Friday is a study in itself. I see every day as an education and a constant development of myself and a great gift to be embraced. Yes, physical pain is definitely part of the equation to have come this far - but how I have enjoyed it, smiles Vesti.

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Vesti's diet, bedtime and sleep have also been monitored closely and the restitution phase following each training session. Vesti is also mentally prepared like never before.

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I have to go out and show Mercedes what I can do. But in my own head it's not just about going out and doing a fast lap. Mentally, I prepare my brain in such a way that it's about much more than a fast lap time, what matters the most is getting through the FP session in the best possible way. I intend to show my worth to the team. My finest goal is to help fully prep the car for George when he takes over the wheel on Saturday, so he and the team are even better positioned for a top result. I would like to send a huge thank you to Toto Wolff, Jérôme d'Ambrosio and Gwen Lagrue for giving me the opportunity and showing me great confidence. And thank you to everyone at Mercedes who worked to get me optimally prepared. You guys are such a joy to work with!

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Vesti can be seen live on track at 20.30 Danish time Friday.

Finn P Photography

Finn P Photography

Finn P Photography