Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton will sit out the first practice session of this weekend’s 2022 French Grand Prix, with Nyck de Vries taking his place.
Teams are obliged to run rookie drivers in two FP1 sessions across the season as part of the 2022 sporting regulations.
It’s the Dutch driver’s second appearance in an F1 practice session this season. De Vries previously drove Alexander Albon‘s Williams car during first practice for the Spanish Grand Prix.
The reigning Formula E champion impressed everyone that day, lapping almost a tenth faster than regular Williams driver Nicholas Latifi. Mercedes will be hoping he continues that form at the Circuit Paul Ricard, with the team set to test further upgrades for their W13.
“Nyck is replacing Lewis in first practice this weekend, as part of the allocated sessions for young drivers this year,” team principal Toto Wolff said in Mercedes‘ preview of the weekend.
“So, we’re looking forward to seeing how he gets on.”
De Vries in Formula E
De Vries currently sits eighth in the Formula E driver standings, 72 points back of teammate and championship leader Stoffel Vandoorne.
The Dutchman also featured for Mercedes in the 2020 and 2021 Abu Dhabi Young Driver tests.
