General
THIS F1 talent does not want to be Rinus Veekay's teammate
- Ludo van Denderen
After the Formula 2 championship, the world was at Felipe Drugovich's feet. But a year since the last F2 race of the 2022 season, the Brazilian has not driven a race. For now, it seems that will change anytime soon. Even for 2024, Drugovich prefers a reserve and test role at Aston Martin to racing.
Racing opportunities have been plentiful for 23-year-old Drugovich recently. For instance, he completed a successful test for Maserati's Formula E team and was an absolute top candidate to replace the departed Edoardo Mortara in '24. However, Drugovich decided to wait for his chance at Aston Martin and recently extended his contract there.
Meanwhile, it appears that the Brazilian could not only go in Formula E, a team also wanted him in IndyCar. Ed Carpenter Racing made him an offer, Drugovich confessed in Brazil's O Globo, but he also decided to renounce a contract in America. If Drugovich did choose Ed Carpenter's team, he would have become a teammate of Dutchman Rinus Veekay.
Drugovich hopes for Formula 1
Drugovich told the Brazilian Medium that he had by no means given up his chance of a permanent seat at Aston Martin. That made him decide to be patient and not turn his back on Formula 1 (already). No doubt the Brazilian realises that Fernando Alonso's contract with Aston Martin expires after the 2024 season. It is uncertain whether the Spaniard - by then 43 years old - will want to continue his F1 career at the end of next year.
Moreover, it is unclear what will happen to Lance Stroll. The Canadian is the son of co-owner Lawrence Stroll, and for some time, there have been rumours of a sale of Aston Martin to the Chinese co-shareholder. In that case, Stroll junior's position at the Silverstone-based team seems untenable. In any case, it is apparently not a foregone conclusion that Lance Stroll will be in the green car in 2024. "That's the plan," he confessed in Mexico.