The Mercedes Formula 1 team has announced its drivers for the 2022 Junior programme. Denmark’s Frederik Vesti and Estonian Paul Aron are part of this season’s youth development programme. Both drivers enjoyed their first success in the ADAC Formula 4 talent factory. Last year’s champion Oliver Bearman will benefit from a special support programme. The Brit recently became a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy.

Born in Tallinn (Estonia) in 2004, young driver Paul Aron took his first steps in Formula racing in the ADAC’s high-speed school. Aron ended the 2019 season in seventh place with Prema Powerteam, claiming podiums at the Red Bull Ring (Austria) and in Zandvoort (Netherlands). Now 18, Aron has been part of the Mercedes development programme since mid-2019 and will continue to enjoy the support of the Formula 1 team. Aron lines up in his second season in the Formula Regional European Championship.

20-year-old Frederik Vesti celebrated his first success in the German Formula school. He made his debut in the junior series with Van Amersfoort Racing in 2017. He promptly took victory in Oschersleben and claimed podiums at the Lausitzring and the Nürburgring. One year later, he really showed his potential with fourth place in the championship. His highlight: victory at the Hockenheimring on the fifth weekend of the season, which featured on the support programme for the Formula 1 World Championship. Vesti has been part of the Mercedes Junior programme since mid-2019. Having made his debut in ADAC Formula 4, he continues to benefit from everything he learned in the junior series. Since then, Vesti has climbed the career ladder and now races in Formula 2 for ART Grand Prix.

Oliver Bearman dominated the 2021 ADAC Formula 4 season: most wins, most poles, and most fastest laps. The next career step is predestined. Bearman recently joined the Ferrari Driver Academy and will also benefit from the support programme there. He joins Robert Shwartzman there, who also cut his teeth in ADAC Formula 4 in 2015.