Born in Vejle, Denmark, Frederik Vesti is among the most enjoyable skills of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Staff’s Junior Program. After reaching success within the sub-categories, Frederik was promoted to Method 2 final 12 months and remained in F2 in 2023, however modified groups from ART to Prema.
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background story
“Frederik comes from a household with minimal monetary means. Nonetheless, he has an uncompromising and hardworking father. In a take a look at with Van Amersfoort Racing in Barcelona on the finish of 2016, he achieved sooner outcomes than Max Verstappen did with the crew. This opened the door and risk to the German Method 4 championship with Van Amersfoort Racing in 2017. At the moment, I nonetheless had not agreed to be his supervisor. However I helped him together with his first DKK 1 million by his present sponsor, Give Metal. He acquired the remainder of the cash from his father. “His father made a rapid resolution and determined to promote his home and farm to search out sufficient cash for Fred to drive for the 2017 season,” mentioned Dorte Riis Madsen, supervisor of Frederik Vesti.
“Frederik has taken profession issues into his personal palms since he was little. On the age of 12, he acquired on his bike and set off to lift cash in and across the neighborhood the place he grew up. Fred options pictures that he hopes will assist persuade the city’s native shopkeepers, businessmen and artisans that he’s a younger lad worthy of their assist. He had ready a little bit pamphlet” – continued Dorte.
“I used to journey my bike in all weathers and I at all times bear in mind it as if it was raining, however individuals made me really feel welcome. In fact, many individuals like me are consistently asking companies for cash for this and that. Whether or not or not you succeed, I feel, depends upon the way you query and current your self. If you happen to dare present up on the door, it sends a robust sign. That is why it makes an impression when a 12-year-old boy out of the blue stands in entrance of the supervisor’s workplace on the native firm and asks for cash” – Frederik defined.
His father made a rapid resolution and selected to promote his home and farm to search out sufficient cash for Fred to drive for the 2017 season.
Dorte Riis Madsen
Frederik Vesti’s supervisor
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“I attempted writing to him many instances and despatched many emails with photographs and textual content about the way it was going and the way I used to be progressing. However not a lot got here out of that,” says Fred.
Sooner or later, Dorte Riis Madsen out of the blue turned to Fred on a constructive word. She wished to fulfill him, however solely to offer him good recommendation.
“It was a troublesome assembly as a result of I knew Dorte was the one individual within the nation with invaluable real-life expertise and experience within the demanding motorsport enterprise. He has already confirmed himself on the highest degree by recruiting one other younger driver into F1. Sooner or later, he has confirmed himself on the highest degree on the earth’s hardest and most prestigious race. I wanted Dorte to do the insanely laborious work on the enterprise aspect to maintain the dream of reaching the franchise alive.
Dorte Riis Madsen, Fred’s supervisor
“I began working with Kevin Magnussen once I was 14 and I promised to take him to F1. With that, we succeeded. Eight years later, once I stopped working with him and it resulted in a authorized battle, I made a decision by no means to race once more. As destiny would have it, Fred reconsidered my resolution. and he was the one one who had the prospect to persuade me to begin from scratch and develop a younger driver. Nobody has come near impressing me as he has. And I’ve to confess, I’ve seen loads, I’ve identified a number of younger drivers all over the world and through the years I’ve seen a number of nice and proficient I labored with drivers.”
“Fred was 14 years previous when he tried to rent me as his supervisor, lively and fully-fledged. Because of this, though I mentioned ‘no’ to him, he by no means backed down. A great way to check individuals to find out their diploma of willpower and perseverance! I am consistently watching his progress from the sidelines. Construction, self-discipline, consistency and most significantly initiative. He doesn’t anticipate others to behave on his behalf, at all times taking issues into his personal palms. Because the saying goes, luck favors ready minds”.
“On the age of 15, he invited potential sponsors to a gathering at his native Inn and managed to steer the Inn to pay for all foods and drinks. He consistently attended networking conferences and didn’t hesitate for a second to name the richest within the nation. Many of those profitable businessmen have by no means tried to be approached by an “entrepreneur” this younger his age. Exhibit a robust sense of entrepreneurship early on to assist advance your profession as a pushed, decided and devoted race automobile driver. He additionally taught on the age of 10 for companies and faculties, inspiring younger individuals to pursue large targets in life, by no means surrender, and have the enjoyment of being formidable.
“Frederik often manages to take advantage of any scenario. This gave him a rock-solid spine, making him hungrier and extra decided than most. Frederik at all times needed to make do with used ones when his rivals risked placing on new tires in karting. Within the early years of his abroad profession “He was going to remain in an previous, worn out trailer that his father had introduced from Denmark. He could not afford the accommodations for the opposite drivers.”
Most of those profitable businessmen have by no means tried to be approached by an “entrepreneur” this younger his age.
Dorte Riis Madsen
Frederik Vesti’s supervisor
Mercedes and Toto Wolff
In Might 2018, Fred first met with Gwen Lagrue (Driver Growth Guide). Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team) on a yacht in Monaco. He met her alone. Fred and his supervisor had been reaching out to Mercedes for a number of months. The assembly with Gwen resulted in a pleasant dialog and a promise to control her.
When Fred realized that Mercedes was not but prepared to take him on board, he gave a succinct response: “This motivates me much more. I do know what must be accomplished and my objective is evident: I’ve to grasp Method 4. I’ve to go there and belong to the Junior Program.” And that is very reasonable – it will have been really easy if they’d thought of getting me on board on my first strive!
From his first assembly with Gwen, Fred started submitting race studies to Mercedes. He wrote about his strengths in addition to what did not work for him. Right this moment, she thinks writing all these studies makes a distinction – she’s at all times right in her statements concerning the positives however maybe extra importantly, she additionally covers the negatives you may study from.
Fred first met Toto on the rostrum at Hockenheim. He gained an F4 race and was introduced with the trophy by Toto. As Frederik stepped onto the rostrum he stopped and greeted Toto. From that second on, Fred’s solely objective was to develop into a future younger driver at Mercedes.
The next 12 months – once more in Hockenheim – Frederik resolutely known as Toto a number of instances, however solely acquired his PA’s e-mail.
Slowly however progressively, and after successful the Championship within the F3 Regional collection, he began to look on Mercedes’ radar.
He did his first simulator take a look at for Mercedes originally of 2020 and joined the Junior Program on the finish of 2020.
Michael Mortensen (Essential associate):
It was an identical story when Fred met the late Michael Mortensen, as was Fred’s first assembly with Dorte Riis Madsen. He tragically handed away final 12 months on the age of 49. Michael was considered one of Denmark’s most profitable entrepreneurs, with the Hybel firm being Fred’s predominant sponsor for a few years.
“He did not surrender, however tried to get in contact with me to rearrange a face-to-face assembly,” Michael mentioned in an interview with the Danish Monetary Journal ‘Boersen’. “I invited him over for a cup of espresso. Then Frederik confirmed up, I met a really mature younger man with an previous head on his shoulders, after which he was very properly ready, well mannered and well-rounded. He made an impression on me.”
“I did not want a lot persuasion as a result of Frederik’s persona stunned me! That is what I fell for and answered. Instantly and instinctively, I might see and know that this boy had a uncommon expertise. It wasn’t simply empty phrases.”
Instantly and instinctively, I might see and know that this boy had a uncommon expertise.
Michael Mortensen
Essential associate of Frederik Vesti
Intern
Fred additionally likes the enterprise aspect of racing. He’s anticipated to spend time together with his companions to study concerning the firm, its staff and profile. He desires to take firms utterly underneath his pores and skin.
“It’s totally thrilling to study firms that I have been very lucky to be concerned with as a sponsor. I owe them loads. Being an intern provides me a number of information and expertise. I attend conferences with Senior Managers, make web site visits and work and spend time with firm staff. I used to be a ‘handler’ on the non-public airline JoinJet and needed to put together the planes earlier than departure. This additionally meant emptying the bogs! Taking over a brand new problem is just about like a contest (laughs).”
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