Lewis Hamilton will not take part in first practice for the French Grand Prix on Friday, with reserve driver Nyck De Vries taking the wheel of his Mercedes instead.
Preparations are underway for Hamilton's 300th Grand Prix start this weekend but he will give up his seat to reigning Formula E champion De Vries for the opening session.
This weekend @nyckdevries will be taking the wheel of W13 for FP1. 👊
Lewis has chosen this weekend to fulfil the first of two young driver sessions required by all teams this season. George has selected one later in the year. pic.twitter.com/aNimIvCClU
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) July 20, 2022
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said: "Nyck is replacing Lewis in first practice this weekend, as part of the allocated sessions for young drivers this year.
"So, we’re looking forward to seeing how he gets on."
De Vries joined Mercedes’ young driver programme in 2010 and was named as the Formula One team’s test and reserve driver last year alongside his drive in Formula E.
It will be his second taste of an F1 first practice session this season after he took Alex Albon’s Williams out ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix in May.
Teams must abide by the new F1 regulation added this year, in that they must use rookie drivers on at least two occasions during first practice.
Lewis Hamilton's replacement for French Grand Prix speaks out on making Mercedes debut #F1 https://t.co/UMdOxXoQ5b
— F1 news (@Express_F1) July 20, 2022
