Aston Martin plan to make Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich "race ready" in 2023, in preparation for a future career in Formula 1.
The Brazilian is a highly-rated prospect, having won the F2 championship this year. However, as was the case with previous title-winner Oscar Piastri, there was no room for him in F1 for the season after becoming champion – and so the next step of his career is, for now, on hold.
Instead, Drugovich became the first member of Aston Martin's newly-established driver development programme. He will share reserve duties in 2023 alongside Formula E champion Stoffel Vandoorne, giving Aston Martin two strong options should they need a stand-in at short notice for whatever reason next year.
A race seat at the Silverstone team may be hard come come by any time soon. Fernando Alonso has just joined on a multi-year deal, while Lance Stroll's position looks safe given his father is the owner of the team.
Looking at what 2023 will hold for Drugovich, team boss Mike Krack told RacingNews365 : "We will see how we develop the whole thing next year, whether we can run him in a previous car to prepare him, like Piastri did or like Lance did a couple of years ago and then have maybe other appearances in practice [sessions].
"I think we have to see how the situation works out now, and [see] what his possibilities [are]. At the moment, the target is clearly to develop him to be race ready, and then we will see how the situation goes next year."
Part of the reason for having two capable drivers on standby is to "avoid hassles" in the future, explained the Luxembourger. Aston Martin found out for themselves this year how stressful it is arranging a stand-in driver at short notice, fielding Nico Hulkenberg in the first two races of the year after Sebastian Vettel tested positive for Covid-19.
To help them stay sharp, the plan is for both Drugovich and Vandoorne to continue racing alongside their reserve duties. Vandoorne will defend his Formula E crown while Drugovich's plans are yet to be confirmed – when it comes to being on standby, Krack explained that neither would be top choice over the other and that the choice of who would get to race would depend on circumstances.
He added: "We have not really a number one reserve driver, number two reserve driver. We need to see. Both drivers will have also a programme besides [being a reserve driver] – Stoffel will be in Formula E, Felipe I think will also do a race programme. So we have to see who is available when, and we will decide accordingly."
