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Frederic Vesti will replace Lewis Hamilton for FP1 at this weekend’s Abu Gabi Grand Prix.
The 21-year-old previously replaced George Russell for the Mexico GP and is now completing the second of two FP1 rookie seasons that teams must complete.
Vestey will also remain with Mercedes to take part in the season-ending test in Abu Dhabi, which will take place after the Grand Prix.
The youngster is eager to move forward and reacted by saying: “Driving in FP1 in Abu Dhabi is another step forward in my career.
Frederic Vesti to replace Lewis Hamilton for FP1 at F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
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“Getting my first experience of an official session on an F1 weekend in Mexico was a big moment.
“I learned a lot, and it was great to support the team and work with Lewis and George. I look forward to building on that experience at Yas Marina.
“It’s a track I know well and there’s no doubt that it will be easy to get up to speed in an hour of practice.
“I’m extremely excited to get behind the wheel of the W14 for FP1 and then testing later in the season.
“Once again, I want to say a big thank you to the team for giving me this opportunity.”
Vesti is also set to feature in the season finale of the Formula 2 Championship.
He currently sits in second place, 25 points behind leader and Sauber Academy star Theo Porchaire.
Meanwhile, Hamilton will be looking to win in Abu Dhabi for the sixth time in his career so far.
No other driver has won so many times at that track in the last few years, with Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel both winning three times each.
However, Hamilton will likely still be haunted by what happened in the Middle East two years ago.
The Stevenage-born racer thought he had won an historic eighth F1 title.
Yet a controversial incident with the safety car meant that Verstappen was awarded the crown instead.
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff is looking forward to the race in Abu Dhabi.
And he took a dig at former FIA race director Michael Massi, insisting there will be a ‘proper director’ in charge of proceedings this time.
“I think we’re going there with about equal points and we have a proper race director, so it should be OK,” he said.
“Then let’s race. That’s all as of last weekend.
“They are very fast and they have done a good job.
“I think we could have been on par [in Las Vegas], But the result shows something else.
“To be honest, it’s nice to have a positive P2 to end the season, but for me P2, P3 is very low… it doesn’t make me particularly happy anyway.”
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Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to win the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for the sixth time
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Verstappen has won the race in each of the last three years.
He will be heading into the final race of the campaign in high spirits after claiming glory in Las Vegas on Sunday.
