Hamilton sits out in Le Castellet – Mercedes brings Formula E champ

Created: 07/21/2022, 16:14

By: Christoph Klaucke

Lewis Hamilton takes a break before the French Grand Prix.

The reserve driver is the reigning Formula E Champion Nyck de Vries – but only in practice.

Le Castellet – Lewis Hamilton clears his cockpit ahead of the French Grand Prix.

Formula E champion Nyck de Vries gets into the Mercedes as a substitute for the record world champion in Formula 1.

However, Hamilton will only skip the first practice session, for all other sessions and of course the race, the Brit will take the wheel himself as usual.

A rule change in the premier class of motorsport at the beginning of the season requires the exchange.

Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton forgoes training in Castellet – chance for Formula E champion

“Nyck replaces Lewis in first practice this weekend, which is intended by the regulations this year to help young riders.

So we're curious to see how he'll do," said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff before the race weekend in Le Castellet.

Hamilton does not voluntarily forego the practice drive in France.

Since this year, every F1 driver has been obliged to let a junior driver do the training on Friday once a season.

However, the rule also states that the rookie has not yet contested more than two Formula 1 races.

Lewis Hamilton sits out training for the Formula 1 race at Le Castellet.

© Jerry Andre/Imago

Nyck de Vries is a Formula 1 reserve driver at Mercedes

De Vries is allowed to train for the second time this season.

The Formula E champion represented Alexander Albon in the Williams in Spain.

Now he even replaces Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes.

In 2019, the Dutchman won the Formula 2 title, but then did not find a Formula 1 cockpit.

De Vries then switched to Formula E, where he won the title in his third season with Mercedes last year.

The 27-year-old is also the official reserve driver for the Formula 1 team.

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Lewis Hamilton takes a break before his anniversary race

Hamilton is looking forward to a little break on Friday ahead of his 300th Formula 1 Grand Prix.

The 37-year-old picked himself this weekend, Mercedes revealed on Twitter.

Teammate George Russell is said to have already decided to take a "time out", although the timing is not yet known.

In France Mercedes wants to continue its upward trend and fight for the podium again.

The Silver Arrows have been on the podium once in each of the past four races.

For comparison: In the first seven Grand Prix there were only three.

Mick Schumacher, on the other hand, is still a bit away from the podium, but the Haas driver recently drew attention to himself with his first points.

Is there a future at Ferrari?