As The Race reports, Fred Vesti is quietly building a serious case for himself as a contender for a 2027 Formula 1 seat with Cadillac. While higher-profile names like Colton Herta draw plenty of attention in that market, Vesti put down a marker during opening practice in Mexico.
Stepping into George Russell's car, the 24-year-old Vesti finished the session third overall. He was just 0.111s slower than Kimi Antonelli, delivering what deputy Mercedes team principal Bradley Lord described as the most impressive of Vesti's seven F1 practice outings to date. Mercedes even gave Vesti the rare luxury of a proper soft-tyre performance run, a gesture backed entirely by Russell.
"The timing couldn't be better," Vesti declared regarding his prospects for the vacant Cadillac drive alongside Sergio Perez. "There are discussions about a seat and I've got my eyes on that seat. I believe I would be very, very good in that car and to be in Formula 1 has been my goal ever since I started driving."
Russell was similarly enthusiastic about his colleague's potential, noting that Vesti has shouldered heavy development duties without always getting glory runs. Russell felt strongly that the team owed him an opportunity to show his true speed, and Vesti grabbed it with both hands—even if a minor gear choice through Turn 16 cost him a shot at topping his teammate's theoretical best.
Beyond a single session, Vesti's value to Mercedes runs much deeper. Having joined the team's driver academy in 2021, he has logged roughly 300 simulator days over five years, accumulating over 50,000 laps. He even spearheaded the virtual development of Mercedes' 2026 machine.
While he already races for Cadillac in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, Vesti made it clear that grand prix racing remains his ultimate and singular ambition. With a knowledge bank built inside a title-contending outfit, he believes he is more than ready to make the jump.
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