Mercedes hands Vesti FP1 session at Bahrain GP

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Mercedes reserve Fred Vesti will be in action on Friday in Bahrain, the Dane taking to the track in Sakhir in FP1 at the wheel of George Russell's W16 silver arrow.

It will be the 23-year-old's third practice outing with Mercedes, having previously run with the team in FP1 in 2023 in Mexico and Abu Dhabi.

The session will offer Vesti a valuable opportunity to apply his simulator work to the track following months of preparation with the team at Brackley.

This year, Vesti is combining his Formula 1 duties with Mercedes with a campaign in the IMSA Sportscar Championship endurance championship in the United States with Whelen Cadillac Racing alongside Earl Bamber and Jack Aitken.

“I am really looking forward to getting my first taste of the W16 in FP1 in Bahrain," commented the Mercedes junior.

“Being able to put all of my simulator work into practice on the track is a really exciting prospect for me.

“At the start of the year, I set myself the goal of maximising every chance I get behind the wheel of an F1 car in 2025, and that is what I hope to achieve in Bahrain.

“I will be doing everything I can to help the team, George, and Kimi get set for the rest of the weekend."

As a reminder, Formula 1's mandatory FP1 rookie running has been expanded for 2025. As of this year, teams must assign a rookie to each of their cars on at least two occasions.

This means teams will run an inexperienced driver for the first practice session at four race weekends this season.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.