Although Frederik Vesti will look to follow in the footsteps of current F1 stars Esteban Ocon and George Russell, the Dane doesn't believe his recent move to the Mercedes Formula 1 junior programme comes with any added pressure. The 19-year-old made the switch in January and already has a sparkling resume, having won the Formula Regional European title in 2019 while finishing fourth in his first FIA F3 Championship last season. Vesti knows the move is a valuable one as it's been a springboard for names like Ocon and Russell in the past, but he is taking things in stride. "Pressure is always there, ever since you start racing karts, but for me the choice of Mercedes does not mean pressure, rather having a great opportunity to work with a group of extremely competitive and prepared people," Vesti told Motorsport.com. "Joining the Mercedes junior programme is a valuable opportunity for my career. "A deal like this takes time. The team needs to see my growth as a driver, while I need to understand if the team is able to give me all the tools to grow." Vesti revealed Mercedes began tracking his progress several years ago, with the team also focusing on things other than his success. "Before signing the contract I had to show all my potential," Vesti continued. "They started following me three years ago, but at the beginning they were only superficial contacts. "When I started to win we started to talk and they evaluated not only the positive moments, but also how I reacted in the negative ones."
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