Born in Vejle, Denmark, Frederik Vesti is likely one of the most enjoyable abilities of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Group’s Junior Programme. After attaining success in decrease classes, Frederik moved as much as System 2 final yr, and he stays in F2 for 2023 however switched groups from ART to Prema.
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Background story
“Frederik comes from a household with minimal monetary means. However he has an uncompromising and hardworking father. Throughout a take a look at in Barcelona with Van Amersfoort Racing on the finish of 2016, he set sooner instances than Max Verstappen did with the crew. It opened the door and risk for him into the German System 4 championship with Van Amersfoort Racing in 2017. At the moment, I nonetheless had not agreed to turn out to be his supervisor. However I helped him together with his first DKK 1 million by means of a present sponsor, Give Metal. He obtained the remainder of the cash from his father. His father made a fast resolution and opted to promote his dwelling and his farm to seek out sufficient cash for Fred to drive within the 2017 season,” – mentioned Dorte Riis Madsen, supervisor of Frederik Vesti.
“Since Frederik was tiny, he has taken profession issues into his personal arms. At 12, he jumped on his bike and set off to gather cash in and across the neighbourhood the place he grew up. Fred had made a small brochure together with images that he hoped would assist persuade the city’s native shopkeepers, businesspeople and craftsmen that he’s a younger lad price their help,” – Dorte continued.
“I acquired on my bike in all types of climate, and I bear in mind it prefer it was at all times raining, however individuals welcomed me. After all, many individuals like me always ask companies for cash for this and that. Whether or not you might be profitable or not, I imagine it’s about the way you ask and current your self. It sends a robust sign should you dare to indicate up on the entrance door with out your mom or father holding your hand. So, it makes an impression when a 12-year-old boy instantly stands in entrance of the supervisor’s workplace within the native firm and asks for cash,” – Frederik defined.
His father rapidly determined to promote his dwelling and farm to seek out sufficient cash for Fred to drive within the 2017 season.
Dorte Riis Madsen
Supervisor of Frederik Vesti
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“I attempted many instances to put in writing to her, and I despatched a number of emails with images and texts about the way it was going and the way I used to be progressing. However nothing a lot got here of it,” says Fred.
Sooner or later, Dorte Riis Madsen instantly acquired again to Fred on a constructive word. She needed to fulfill him, however solely to provide him some good recommendation.
“It was a troublesome assembly as a result of I knew that Dorte was the one individual within the nation with invaluable real-life expertise and experience from the robust enterprise in motorsports. She has already proved herself on the highest stage by taking one other younger driver into F1. I wanted Dorte to do the insanely exhausting work on the enterprise aspect to maintain the dream alive of reaching the world’s hardest and most prestigious racing collection sooner or later.”
Dorte Riis Madsen, Fred’s supervisor
“I began working with Kevin Magnussen when he was 14 and promised to take him to F1. We succeeded with that. Once I stopped working with him after eight years and which led to a authorized battle, I made a decision I’d by no means become involved in racing once more. As destiny would have it, Fred made me rethink my resolution, and he was the one one on the market who stood an opportunity of convincing me to start out another time from scratch and develop a younger driver. Nobody has ever come near impressing me like him. And I have to admit I’ve seen so much, identified many world-class junior drivers and labored with some superb and proficient drivers over time.”
“Fred was 14 years outdated when he actively and fully himself tried to recruit me as his supervisor. He by no means backed down regardless of my consequently telling him ‘no’. It’s a great way of testing individuals to find out their diploma of willpower and perseverance! I’ve always been monitoring his progress from the sideline. Construction, self-discipline, consistency, and, not the least, initiative. He doesn’t await others to behave on his behalf however at all times takes issues into his personal arms. Because the saying goes, luck favours the ready thoughts”.
“On the age of 15, he invited potential sponsors for a gathering on the native Inn and efficiently satisfied the Inn to pay for all of the meals and drinks. He always participated in community conferences and didn’t hesitate for one second to provide the wealthiest individuals within the nation a name. Most of these profitable businessmen had by no means tried being approached by such a younger ‘entrepreneur’ his age. Displaying a robust sense of entrepreneurship early to assist advance his career as a race automobile driver – pushed, decided and dedicated. He additionally gave lectures for companies and at faculties on the age of 10, the place he impressed youth to pursue large targets in life, by no means to stop and the enjoyment of being bold.”
“Frederik normally succeeds in getting probably the most out of all conditions. That has given him a stable spine, making him hungrier and extra decided than most. When his opponents may afford to placed on new tires in karting, Frederik at all times needed to settle with used ones. Within the first years of his profession overseas, he would keep in an outdated, worn-out camper that his father introduced from Denmark. He couldn’t afford the inns the place different drivers would keep.”
Most of these profitable businessmen had by no means tried being approached by such a younger ‘entrepreneur’ his age.
Dorte Riis Madsen
Supervisor of Frederik Vesti
Mercedes and Toto Wolff
In Could 2018, Fred met with Gwen Lagrue (Driver Improvement Advisor on the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Group) on a yacht in Monaco. He met him alone. Fred and his supervisor had been reaching out to Mercedes over a number of months. The assembly with Gwen resulted in chat and a promise to keep watch over him.
When Fred discovered that Mercedes was unwilling to carry him aboard, his reply was concise: “It merely motivates me much more. I do know what must be executed, and my goal is obvious: I have to dominate System 4. I have to get on the market and show I belong within the Junior Programme. And that’s all particularly reasonable – it could be too straightforward if they’d thought of bringing me aboard in my first try!”
From that first assembly with Gwen, Fred started to offer Mercedes together with his race reviews. He wrote as a lot about what didn’t work for him as he wrote about his strengths. Immediately he feels that writing all these reviews made a distinction – at all times truthful in his statements concerning the positives however, maybe much more importantly, additionally masking the negatives you possibly can be taught from.
Fred first met Toto in Hockenheim – on the rostrum. He gained an F4 race, and Toto was presenting the trophy. Frederik stopped and greeted Toto on his manner as much as the stage. From that second, all Fred had his sights on was changing into a future junior driver at Mercedes.
The next yr – additionally at Hockenheim – Frederik, with willpower, sought out Toto a number of instances however solely acquired the e-mail for his PA.
Slowly however regularly and after successful the Championship within the F3 Regional collection, he began to seem on the Mercedes’ radar.
In the beginning of 2020, he had his first simulator take a look at for Mercedes, and on the finish of 2020, he joined the Junior Programme.
Michael Mortensen (Predominant associate):
Fred’s appointment with the late Michael Mortensen was comparable as with Fred’s first assembly with Dorte Riis Madsen. He tragically handed away at 49 final yr. Michael was one in all Denmark’s most profitable entrepreneurs, whose firm, Hybel, has been Fred’s main sponsor for a few years.
“He merely didn’t hand over however stored making an attempt to get in contact with me to arrange a face-to-face assembly,” mentioned Michael in an interview with Danish Monetary Journal ‘Boersen’. “I invited him over for a cup of espresso. Then Frederik appeared, I met a younger man with an outdated head on his shoulders, extraordinarily mature for his age, after which he was so well-prepared, well mannered and in full management of his issues. It made an impression on me.”
“I didn’t want a lot persuasion as a result of Frederik’s character blew me away! That’s what I fell for and responded to. Instantly and instinctively, I may see and knew that this child had a uncommon expertise. It wasn’t simply empty phrases.”
Instantly and instinctively, I may see and knew that this child had a uncommon expertise.
Michael Mortensen
Predominant associate of Frederik Vesti
Intern
Fred loves the enterprise a part of racing too. He’s anticipated to spend time together with his companions to be taught concerning the firm, its staff and its profile. He needs to get the businesses completely underneath his pores and skin.
“It’s fairly thrilling to be taught concerning the firms I’m so fortunate to have onboard as sponsors. I owe them a lot. Being an intern provides me loads of data and expertise. I’ve been attending conferences with High Executives, visiting building websites and dealing and spending time with the corporate’s staff. On the non-public airline JoinJet, I used to be a ‘handler’ and needed to put together the planes earlier than takeoff. That additionally meant emptying bathrooms! Taking over a brand new problem is just like racing (laughs).”
