Mercedes will make a temporary driver change at this weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli stepping aside for the opening practice session to allow reserve driver Fred Vesti valuable track time.
The move comes despite Antonelli’s remarkable run of form in the 2026 Formula 1 season. The young Italian has been virtually unstoppable in recent races and arrives in Spain after securing his fifth consecutive Grand Prix victory at Monaco. His dominant performance on the streets of Monte Carlo saw him lead every lap of the race, further strengthening his position at the top of the drivers’ standings.
Antonelli currently enjoys a comfortable 66-point advantage over his nearest rival, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. However, fans tuning in for the first practice session at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will not see the 19-year-old behind the wheel of the Mercedes W17.
Instead, Mercedes has confirmed that Danish driver Fred Vesti will take over Antonelli’s car for FP1 as part of the team’s development programme. Once the opening session concludes, Antonelli will return to the cockpit for the remainder of the weekend, including second practice, qualifying, and Sunday’s race.
The outing will mark Vesti’s fifth Formula 1 practice appearance for Mercedes. The 24-year-old first drove for the team during a practice session at the 2023 Mexican Grand Prix before receiving another opportunity at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix later that year.
Although he did not participate in any official F1 sessions during the 2024 campaign, Vesti returned to action last season, completing practice outings in Bahrain and Mexico. His continued involvement with Mercedes has made him an important part of the team’s driver development structure.
Mercedes revealed the news through a light-hearted social media video. In the clip, a team member informs Vesti that he has picked up the wrong helmet for the Barcelona weekend. After being handed his Formula 1 helmet instead, the Dane quickly realises what is happening and responds enthusiastically.
“Oh yeah, I’m doing FP1 in Barcelona. I can’t wait,” Vesti said with a smile, clearly excited about the opportunity.
The practice appearance is another significant milestone for Vesti, who was promoted ahead of the 2026 season from reserve driver to Mercedes’ official third driver. The role has brought him closer to the race team and increased his involvement in trackside operations.
Speaking earlier this year about his new position, Vesti expressed his gratitude and excitement at taking another step toward his dream of becoming a full-time Formula 1 driver.
“I’m extremely excited to be joining the team, George and Kimi trackside more often this year as Third Driver,” Vesti said. “That’s going to be very cool for me. I’ve worked with this team for five years now, so to step up even closer to my dream of racing in Formula 1 is a huge privilege.”
While Vesti gets his chance to impress in Barcelona, all eyes will quickly return to Antonelli as he seeks to continue his extraordinary winning streak and further tighten his grip on the 2026 Formula 1 world championship.
