On the upcoming Grand Prix weekend in Bahrain, Altmeister Fernando Alonso will initially vacate his Formula 1 cockpit for substitute Felipe Drugovich. The test driver can do in the 1st free training session in the desert.
First use for Felipe Drugovich in the 2025 Formula 1 season. The test and reserve driver will take over the Aston Martin car from Fernando Alonso in the first free training. This was announced by the F1 racing team on Tuesday.
The Brazilian will drive the AMR25 in the first session next Friday and can thus gain experience for himself and data for the team.
Drugovich knows the route very well. During the 2023 test drives, he jumped in for the then injured Lance Stroll. The Formula 1 teams are obliged to have drivers driving in four sessions per season with fewer than two F1 races.
“I am very happy to sit in an F1 car again, especially so early in the season,” said the 24-year-old. “I prepared myself in the simulator to get a feeling for the car, and Bahrain is a route that I know well and like to drive. I look forward to making my contribution and providing the team the data that is needed this weekend. Many thanks to the entire team for its continuous support.”
Aston Martin: He will do a great job
Aston Martin team boss Andy Cowell is pleased to be able to give Drugovich this opportunity to drive the AMR25 in Bahrain. “It is an integral part of our team’s simulator program in the AMR Technology Campus and always provides us with valuable and revealing feedback that helps us develop the car,” said the team boss. “Felipe has reliable hands and we are confident that he will do a great job in FP1 and will contribute to our preparations for the race weekend.”
Drugovich has been part of Aston Martin’s youth program since 2022. That year he also won the World Cup in Formula 2.
As a Friday driver, he has experience. Last season he took part in free training in Mexico and Abu Dhabi. He was also at the wheel at the later tire tests in the Emirate at Aston Martin.
Last year Drugovich was traded as a regular pilot for the clean cockpit. Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto was awarded the contract.