News Summary
- Frederik Vesti will replace George Russell during the opening practice session of the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix, giving the Mercedes reserve driver another Formula 1 race-weekend appearance.
- Russell will miss Friday’s first hour of running at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez before returning to the cockpit for FP2.
- Vesti joins Freddie Slater and Jak Crawford among the confirmed FP1 substitutes, with Audi and Aston Martin also giving inexperienced drivers track time.
Mercedes has confirmed that Frederik Vesti will replace George Russell in the opening free practice session of the 2026 Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix on Friday (October 30). The Danish reserve driver will take over Russell’s W17 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez as the team continues fulfilling its rookie-practice obligations, while the British driver is expected to return for FP2 later in the day.
The decision comes at a significant moment for Mercedes. Russell is second in the Drivers’ Championship with 242 points, only one ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, while teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads the standings with 365 points and could secure the World Championship in Mexico. Vesti’s participation will therefore reduce Russell’s own preparation time at a circuit where altitude creates unusual technical demands.
Vesti returns to Mercedes cockpit for Mexican GP practice
The Mexican Grand Prix will provide Vesti with another opportunity to work directly with Mercedes during a competitive Formula 1 weekend.
The Dane has been part of the manufacturer’s driver development programme since 2021 and has gained extensive experience in its simulator and testing operations.
He finished runner-up in the 2023 Formula 2 championship before expanding his responsibilities within Mercedes.
Vesti also competes in sports car racing, while continuing to support the Formula 1 team’s preparation through simulator work and technical feedback.
His relationship with Mercedes has included previous FP1 appearances, particularly at the Mexican Grand Prix.
The driver made his official Formula 1 weekend debut at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in 2023, when he also substituted for Russell.
He returned to the circuit for another practice appearance in 2025, again taking over the British driver’s car.
That familiarity makes Mexico a logical venue for his latest outing.
However, the W17 represents a different technical challenge from the cars Vesti previously drove, following the major changes to Formula 1’s aerodynamic and power-unit regulations for 2026.
Why Russell will miss Mexico’s opening practice session
Formula 1 requires teams to provide opportunities for eligible inexperienced drivers during Grand Prix practice sessions.
The programme allows junior and reserve drivers to gain experience in contemporary F1 cars while contributing to the teams’ technical work.
For established race drivers, it means surrendering a limited amount of track time during selected weekends.
Russell will consequently miss FP1 but is expected to return for FP2 on Friday afternoon.
The substitution does not affect his entry for qualifying or Sunday’s race.
Mercedes will use Vesti’s session to gather information on the car’s behaviour, particularly as teams prepare for the challenges presented by Mexico City’s altitude.
The circuit sits approximately 2,240 metres above sea level, where reduced air density affects aerodynamic performance, cooling and turbocharger operation.
These conditions are especially relevant to Formula 1’s new-generation hybrid engines, which generate a much larger proportion of their power electrically than the previous generation.
A productive first session will therefore be important for Mercedes even with one of its regular race drivers absent.
Mercedes prepares for Mexico with Russell under pressure
Russell arrives in Mexico after a difficult United States Grand Prix, where he qualified sixth and finished eighth.
The British driver received a five-second penalty and struggled to match Antonelli’s pace throughout the weekend.
Afterwards, Russell admitted that his performance in Austin had been poor and that he lacked an explanation for the deficit.
Meanwhile, Antonelli converted pole position into his ninth victory of the season.
The Italian’s advantage over Russell has now reached 123 points, a gap examined in GRANDE PRÊMIO’s comparison of the Mercedes teammates’ contrasting 2026 campaigns.
Russell also faces considerable pressure from the drivers immediately behind him.
Hamilton has 241 points, Max Verstappen 236 and Charles Leclerc 233, leaving the four drivers separated by just nine points in the fight for second place.
The decision to give Vesti FP1 therefore comes during a weekend when Russell will be seeking to recover competitiveness and protect his championship position.
Although missing practice reduces his available running, Mercedes can use the data collected by Vesti and Antonelli to inform its preparation before Russell returns to the car.
Which rookie drivers will participate in Mexico FP1?
Vesti is not the only driver replacing a regular competitor during Friday’s opening session.
Audi has confirmed Freddie Slater will take over Gabriel Bortoleto’s car, giving the young British prospect his first official Formula 1 Grand Prix practice appearance.
Slater is scheduled to complete another session for Audi at São Paulo, where he will substitute for Nico Hülkenberg.
The manufacturer’s decision was previously detailed in Audi’s announcement of Slater’s Mexico and São Paulo FP1 appearances.
Aston Martin will also give track time to Jak Crawford, who is scheduled to replace Lance Stroll.
Crawford has already participated in several practice sessions for the British manufacturer, allowing him to accumulate valuable experience in a current Formula 1 car.
Mexican Grand Prix 2026 — Confirmed FP1 substitutions
| Team | Practice driver | Regular driver replaced |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes | F. VESTI | G. RUSSELL |
| Audi | F. SLATER | G. BORTOLETO |
| Aston Martin | J. CRAWFORD | L. STROLL |
Confirmed substitutions reported ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix. Additional announcements may change the complete FP1 entry list.
All three regular drivers are expected to return for the second practice session.
What time is Mexico FP1?
The opening practice session for the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix takes place on Friday, October 30, at 12:30pm local time.
The session is scheduled to last 60 minutes.
Mexico GP FP1 — International start times
| Location | Local start |
|---|---|
| Mexico City | 12:30pm CST, Friday |
| United Kingdom | 6:30pm GMT, Friday |
| New York / Toronto | 2:30pm EDT, Friday |
| Brasília | 3:30pm BRT, Friday |
| India | 12:00am IST, Saturday |
| Sydney / Melbourne | 5:30am AEDT, Saturday |
| Auckland / Wellington | 7:30am NZDT, Saturday |
Mercedes will then return to its regular Russell-Antonelli pairing for FP2, scheduled for 4:00pm in Mexico City.
Qualifying takes place on Saturday, October 31, while Sunday’s race could decide the World Championship.
As the latest title calculations show, Antonelli needs only ninth place to secure the championship in Mexico, regardless of Russell’s result.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section.
