Felipe Drugovich has been handed a FP1 chance by Aston Martin for this weekend’s F1 Italian GP as part of rookie run.
Aston Martin reserve driver Drugovich will drive the AMR23 in this weekend’s Italian GP at Monza as part of the FIA rookie run in FP1. He will replace Lance Stroll for the session as he gets his first chance to drive the 2023 car in a proper session.
He has already had test runs in the AMR21 at various tracks like Silverstone, Barcelona and Red Bull Ring this year as part of his development programme. “I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of the AMR23,” said Drugovich. “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.
“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.
“I’d like to thank Aston Martin for trusting me with this opportunity, as well as our Brazilian partners XP, Porto Seguro and Banco Master for their continued support,” summed up Drugovich, who has recently emerged as a possible contender to Zhou Guanyu’s Alfa Romeo F1 seat for the 2024 season.
Meanwhile, team boss Mike Krack added: “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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