The Aston Martin team has confirmed that young reserve driver Felipe Drugovich will take to the track for the first time during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on Friday, driving in Lance Stroll’s AMR23.

In 2022, two days after winning the 2022 Formula 2 Championship, Drugovich was announced as the first member of the newly formed AMF1 Driver Development Programme, as well as joining Aston Martin’s reserve driver roster.

 

 

Big potential from the Brazilian rookie

Last year, Felipe Drugovich emphatically dispelled any doubts surrounding his second F2 season setback, staging a remarkable comeback that culminated in his triumphant clinching of the 2022 Formula 2 Drivers’ Title in his third year in the championship.

Beginning his journey into single-seater racing with ADAC F4 in 2016, Drugovich’s development showed an impressive progression from a modest P13 finish in his rookie season to a commendable fourth place the following year. In 2018, his prowess escalated even further in the Euroformula Open domain, as he clinched the championship title right from the start, demonstrating his ability and determination.

 

Hamilton “decline” evident in Zandvoort

 

 

Dominance in F2

The next stage of his journey took him to the F3 Championship in 2019, where his stay was notably short but impactful. The following year marked his pivotal transition to Formula 2 under the aegis of MP Motorsport, a team that would come to epitomise his racing home. Although his subsequent stint with Virtuosi Racing the following season did not go to plan, his return to MP Motorsport for the 2022 campaign paid the most coveted dividends.

Drugovich’s performance throughout his championship-winning season was characterised by an irresistible dominance. His authority was vividly demonstrated at Barcelona, where he won both the Sprint and Feature races, instantly signalling his supremacy for the rest of the season.

Over the course of the season, Drugovich took the chequered flag in five races, adding four podiums and pole positions to his tally. Such was his rise to prominence that he remained well ahead of his rivals throughout the 2022 season. Central to his resounding success was his unwavering consistency, a cornerstone of his campaign. Remarkably, he experienced a mere four rounds of futility, while scoring double-digit points in nine of the thirteen rounds.

After this emphatic performance in Formula 2, Aston Martin Racing quickly signed up the youngster to their fledgling F1 driver development programme as their reserve and development driver for the team.

 

Marko criticises Perez “shambolic” driving

 

 

Drugovich to replace Stroll in FP1

Now Felipe Drugovich will take part in the 60-minute session at Monza, the circuit on which he won his Formula 2 title just 12 months ago. The session will mark the Brazilian’s return to the wheel of the AMR23, having replaced the injured Lance Stroll during pre-season testing in Bahrain earlier this year.

The Monza test is the next step in Felipe Drugovich’s development following a bespoke testing programme which has seen the Brazilian driver drive the AMR21 at some of Europe’s most famous circuits, including Silverstone, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

READ MORE: Russell criticises Red Bull driver management

Getting a split-second pit decision right can win you the race

Getting it wrong can be a nightmare 😫#DutchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/KSTvl6ESpR

— Formula 1 (@F1) August 28, 2023

 

 

Monza part of the programme

The bespoke programme is designed to equip Felipe Drugovich with the skills and experience to compete at the highest level of motorsport, contributing to his continued development as a driver. The team are no doubt looking for a replacement for current F1 driver Lance Stroll who is rumoured to be retiring from F1 sooner rather than later.

“I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of the AMR23,” said Drugovich of his scheduled drive at Monza on Friday.

“The car was good when I drove it in pre-season testing and it will be fascinating to feel how much it has improved since then.”

 

Wolff accuses Russel of “believing a myth”

 

 

 

“I’ve spent a lot of time in the simulator helping to develop the car, so understanding the correlation with reality will also be invaluable to me.”

“It’s also a fantastic opportunity for me to demonstrate what I’ve learned through my testing programme.”

“Since Bahrain, I’ve covered a lot more miles in an F1 car, so I understand even better how I can provide valuable feedback to the team.”

The Brazilian driver will therefore replace Lance Stroll for this weekend’s opening practice session at Monza, while Lance Stroll will start his Italian Grand Prix in FP2.

READ MORE: Schumacher 2024 F1 return