Frederik Vesti Bio
Frederik Vesti Stamm (born 13 January 2002) is a Danish racing driver who competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship for Cadillac Whelen and serves as a reserve driver in Formula One for Mercedes. Standing as a leading figure among his generation of European single-seater talents, he captured the inaugural Formula Regional European Championship title and finished as the 2023 Formula 2 runner-up with Prema Racing. Today, he balances a sports car program in North America with reserve duties for one of the most decorated teams in Formula One.
Across karting, junior formulae, and prototype racing, Vesti has built a reputation for consistency and race craft. He also holds the record for the most points scored in FIA Formula 3 history, a mark that reflects his sustained excellence in a highly competitive category. His current residence is Oxford, England, where he continues to focus on training and competition.
Early Life and Background
Frederik Vesti Stamm was born on 13 January 2002 in Vejle, Denmark, a city in the Jutland region. Growing up in a country with a strong tradition of motorsport, he was introduced to karting at a young age and began competing seriously in 2012 at the age of 10. His father, Peter, runs a car sales business called Vesti El Biler, providing a household environment that was naturally connected to automobiles.
Vesti quickly proved himself in Danish karting, winning multiple national events and capturing the Danish championship in the KFJ category in 2014. He represented Denmark at the 2015 Karting World Championship and continued to develop his craft through 2016. The grounding he received on European karting circuits prepared him for the transition to single-seater racing at the age of 14.
Path to NASCAR
Vesti’s career has been built on the European and global open-wheel ladder, including Formula 4, the Formula Regional European Championship, FIA Formula 3, and FIA Formula 2, rather than the traditional NASCAR pathway. His progression through these international single-seater championships has shaped his approach to oval and endurance racing, and he currently applies those skills in the IMSA SportsCar Championship with Cadillac Whelen, where stock car-style traffic management and pit strategy play important roles.
While Vesti has not competed in NASCAR national series events, his sports car program in 2025 represents a continued expansion into North American motorsport. Combined with his reserve role at Mercedes in Formula One, his career arc points to a versatile driver prepared to adapt across multiple disciplines.
Frederik Vesti Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Vesti stepped up to cars in 2016, entering the Danish Formula Ford championship at the age of 14 and finishing fourth overall. The following year, he split his program between the German and Danish Formula 4 Championships, racing for his family-backed Vesti Motorsport in Denmark and finishing as runner-up in the Danish standings while claiming one victory in the German series at the Lausitzring.
In 2018, Vesti moved to Van Amersfoort Racing for the German F4 Championship, where he collected two wins and six additional podiums to finish fourth in the standings. He also made appearances in the Italian F4 Championship, winning twice at Circuit Paul Ricard, and debuted at the prestigious Macau Grand Prix, finishing 15th. These formative years established him as one of the most promising junior talents in Europe.
Formula Regional European Championship Breakthrough (2019)
For the inaugural 2019 Formula Regional European Championship, Prema Powerteam signed Vesti to contest the new series. He delivered a dominant campaign, securing 13 victories, 20 podiums, and the championship title with 467 points, finishing 131 points clear of teammate Enzo Fittipaldi. The performance immediately elevated his profile on the international stage and earned him a place in Motorsport.com’s top 20 junior single-seater drivers of 2019.
Following the championship, Vesti returned to the Macau Grand Prix, this time as a late replacement for the injured Jehan Daruvala at Prema Powerteam, and finished tenth. The combination of a title-winning season and a strong showing at one of junior motorsport’s most demanding events confirmed his readiness to step up to FIA Formula 3.
FIA Formula 3 Championship (2020–2021)
Vesti joined Prema Racing for the 2020 FIA Formula 3 Championship, partnering Oscar Piastri and Logan Sargeant. He opened with a controlled win at the Red Bull Ring in challenging conditions, added a second victory at Monza to help Prema clinch the teams’ title, and claimed a third win at Mugello. His 146.5-point haul secured fourth in the championship, 17.5 points behind champion Piastri.
In 2021, Vesti switched to ART Grand Prix and produced another strong campaign. A single win at the Red Bull Ring, plus consistent scoring throughout the year, carried him to fourth in the standings for the second consecutive season. Across his two F3 campaigns, he set the all-time record for the most points scored in the category, a mark that still stands as a benchmark of his consistency and race pace.
FIA Formula 2 Championship (2022–2023)
Vesti graduated to FIA Formula 2 in 2022 with ART Grand Prix, finishing ninth overall with one win, one pole, and five podiums. His maiden victory came in dramatic fashion in Baku, where he seized the lead from Jehan Daruvala during a late safety car restart. Despite a slow start to the year marked by qualifying struggles, his Baku triumph demonstrated the speed and opportunism that would define his F2 tenure.
For 2023, Vesti moved to Prema Racing alongside Oliver Bearman and delivered his most complete season in the category. He recorded six victories, ten podiums, one pole position, and three fastest laps, finishing as championship runner-up to Théo Pourchaire by just eleven points. His Monza sprint win and a last-lap podium charge at Yas Marina underlined his fighting spirit, even as the title narrowly eluded him.
Formula One Reserve Role (2021–Present)
Vesti was announced as a Mercedes Junior Team driver in January 2021 and has since progressed steadily within the program. He participated in the 2022 Abu Dhabi young driver test at the Yas Marina Circuit, completing 124 laps, and later made his grand prix weekend debut at the 2023 Mexico City Grand Prix, running FP1 for Mercedes. He returned for FP1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix later that year and set the third fastest time in the young drivers’ test.
Promoted to reserve driver for 2024, Vesti shared the role with Mick Schumacher and continued in the position for 2025 alongside Valtteri Bottas. He took part in FP1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Mexico City Grand Prix, while also confirming he was in discussions with Cadillac regarding a seat for 2026.
Cadillac Whelen Era (2025–Present)
For 2025, Vesti signed with Whelen Cadillac Racing to contest the endurance rounds of the IMSA SportsCar Championship, partnering Earl Bamber and Jack Aitken aboard the Cadillac V-Series.R. Although a crash from the lead at the 24 Hours of Daytona briefly halted the team’s momentum, the trio rebounded with victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and another dominant win at Petit Le Mans, vaulting the team to second in both the overall standings and the Michelin Endurance Cup.
Vesti also joined Aitken and Felipe Drugovich for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, forming the youngest Hypercar lineup in terms of average age. After the season, he described himself as having been a “sponge” while adapting to the Cadillac prototype, comparing its complexity to that of a Formula One car.
Driving Style and Strengths
Vesti is widely regarded as a complete driver with strong race craft, opportunistic overtaking, and the ability to manage alternate tyre strategies. His calm demeanor under pressure and willingness to attack in wheel-to-wheel combat have been hallmarks of his career, from his late-race Baku F2 victory to his sustained battles for the lead in IMSA’s GTP class.
Notable Races and Milestones
Signature moments include his 2019 Formula Regional European Championship title, his record-breaking FIA Formula 3 points tally, his dramatic maiden Formula 2 win in Baku, his 2023 F2 runner-up finish with six victories, his Formula One FP1 outings with Mercedes, and his 2025 IMSA victories at Indianapolis and Petit Le Mans with Cadillac Whelen.
Frederik Vesti Career Wins
Frederik Vesti has amassed victories across karting, junior single-seaters, Formula 2, and the IMSA SportsCar Championship. His win totals reflect both his longevity in the sport and his ability to adapt to different machinery, from the Formula Regional European Championship to the Cadillac V-Series.R prototype.
Formula Regional European Championship Highlights
Vesti dominated the 2019 Formula Regional European Championship, claiming the inaugural title with 13 victories, 20 podiums, and a 131-point margin over teammate Enzo Fittipaldi. The championship remains the cornerstone of his junior career résumé and announced him as a driver to watch at the international level.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his Formula Regional title, Vesti recorded one win apiece in the German Formula 4 Championship in 2017 and 2018, two victories in the 2018 Italian F4 Championship at Circuit Paul Ricard, four FIA Formula 3 race wins across 2020 and 2021, six FIA Formula 2 victories in 2023, and two IMSA SportsCar Championship wins in 2025 at Indianapolis and Petit Le Mans with Cadillac Whelen.
Frederik Vesti Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Vesti was raised in Vejle, Denmark, by his father, Peter, who runs a car sales company known as Vesti El Biler. The family connection to the automotive industry helped foster Frederik’s early interest in motorsport and provided a supportive environment for his karting and junior racing career.
Personal Life
As of 2023, Vesti lives in Oxford, England, where he shares a residence with World Endurance Championship driver Olli Caldwell. The two have trained together in the United Kingdom as both have pursued international racing programs.
2025 Season Performance
Vesti’s 2025 campaign has been split between his Formula One reserve duties with Mercedes and a full endurance sports car program with Whelen Cadillac Racing in IMSA. The dual role has demanded careful scheduling, but he has remained competitive in both arenas, with steady progress in his Formula One reserve work and a developing comfort level in the Cadillac V-Series.R.
Highlights of the IMSA season include a fourth-place finish at Sebring, a sixth at Laguna Seca, a competitive showing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Cadillac, and victories at Indianapolis and Petit Le Mans. These results have elevated the team to second in both the overall standings and the Michelin Endurance Cup heading into the final stretch of the year.
On the Formula One side, Vesti continued his reserve role alongside Valtteri Bottas, completed FP1 sessions at the Bahrain and Mexico City Grands Prix, and publicly confirmed talks with Cadillac regarding a possible 2026 seat. With a strong sports car foundation and a clear pathway toward future top-line opportunities, the 2025 season represents another step forward in a versatile and rapidly evolving career.