F1 News
Another driver announced for FP1 in Abu Dhabi: Drugovich tests Aston Martin
After it was announced earlier this week that neither Max Verstappen nor Alexander Albon will drive in FP1 at the Abu Dhabi GP (Isack Hadjar and Luke Browning will sit in their cars instead), Aston Martin have also announced another driver to test in that session. It will be Felipe Drugovich.
Former F2 champion Felipe Drugovich will drive for Aston Martin in FP1 at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. After already sitting in Fernando Alonso's car in Mexico (where he finished in P18), the Brazilian will now get to drive Lance Stroll's AMR24.
"I'm really excited to drive the AMR24 again, and this time at Yas Marina – a circuit that I know well from completing many testing laps there. It will be great to see how the car feels in a completely different environment compared to Mexico, and I'm looking forward to building on what I learned during my first FP1 session earlier this year. It will be great to get a feel for the 2025 Pirelli tyres that the Formula One cars will be running next year, too," the driver said.
The Brazilian will also take part in the Young Drivers Test at the end of the season. He will do that together with Jak Crawford, as the American was announced earlier this year to take part in that session as well.
"We are delighted to offer Felipe further opportunities to drive the AMR24 during Free Practice One and the end-of-season test at Yas Marina. Felipe demonstrated his capabilities and provided valuable feedback during his outing in Mexico, and these sessions will give him a chance to continue building on the 8,200km of experience he already has behind the wheel of a Formula One car. Felipe's work during FP1 will contribute directly to our data gathering and decision-making for the rest of the weekend, and we know he will provide insightful and valuable feedback," team principal Mike Krack explained.
He added: "It's great to have two young drivers behind the wheel of our cars for the end-of-season test, further demonstrating our commitment to their experience and development. Both Felipe and Jak spend significant time in our simulator at the AMR Technology Campus, and time on track is invaluable for correlation, ultimately enhancing their feedback."
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