Aston Martin has announced that it will field reserve driver Felipe Drugovich in Friday's opening practice session at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
The Brazilian driver will take over Lance Stroll's AMR23 in the session as part of the FIA's mandatory young driver obligations whereby F1 teams must entrust at least two practice outings to a rookie.
Drugovich's run on Friday will allow the 23-year-old to get reacquainted with Aston’s AMR23, which he had the opportunity to sample earlier this year in pre-season testing in Bahrain, and to build on that previous experience.
The 2022 FIA Formula 2 Champion is not competing in any series this year, but Drugovich’s development programme with Aston has kept the young busy.
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In addition to embedding with Team Silverstone at every F1 race and his simulator work, Drugovich has enjoyed a tailored testing programme that has seen him take to the track onboard the team’s AMR21 at Silverstone, Barcelona and at the Red Bull Ring among other circuits.
“I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of the AMR23, he said ahead of this week’s outing.
“The car felt great when I drove it in pre-season testing and it will be fascinating to feel how it has improved since then.
©AstonMartin
“I’ve spent a lot of time in the simulator helping to develop the car, so understanding how that correlates to the real thing will be super valuable for me too.
“It’s also a fantastic opportunity for me to demonstrate what I’ve learnt through my testing programme.
“Since Bahrain I’ve done many more miles in an F1 car so I have an even better understanding of how I can deliver valuable feedback for the team.”
Mike Krack, AMF1 Team Principal, said:
“We are delighted to be able to provide Felipe with another opportunity to drive the AMR23.
“He demonstrated his capabilities in pre-season testing, with a vital contribution to the team’s initial development of the car.
“Monza will offer another chance for Felipe to work closely with the engineers and mechanics and build his confidence in a critical session for the team.
“We look forward to maximising this session together.”
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