The Mumbai driver is in his third season in F2, the main feeder competition for the top series
Indian race driver Jehan Daruvala will slip into the seat of a Formula 1 car for the first time when he tests a McLaren at the Silverstone track in the UK on June 21 and 22.
The British team will hand the Formula 2 driver its 2021 car (MCL35M) as part of its Testing Previous Car (TPC) programme, which allows talented young drivers to get a feel of F1 specifications.
“I’m incredibly grateful to be getting this opportunity. Testing in Formula 1 is extremely limited and opportunities like these are not easy to come by, especially with a championship winning team like McLaren. It will be my first experience in a Formula 1 car, which I’m sure will be special,” Daruvala said on a video call from London.
The 23-year-old is in his third year in F2—the main feeder series for F1. He finished 12th and seventh in the previous two seasons. The Mumbai driver is with Italian outfit Prema Racing after two years with Carlin. He is currently third in the championship after six of the 14 rounds.
Though he has five podium finishes—runner-up four times and third once—Daruavala is 59 points adrift of Brazilian series leader Felipe Drugovich (132). Daruvala is yet to win a race this year while Drugovich has four wins.
Daruvala aiming to become the third Indian to drive in F1, after Narain Karthikeyan (2005, 2011, 2012) and Karun Chandhok (2010, 2011). He is also part of the Red Bull Junior Team, which has produced world champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen and grand prix winners Daniel Ricciardo and Pierre Gasly.
“We have been looking for opportunities to drive an F1 car. Mclaren had it and I grabbed it with both hands. I want to go out there and drive the car as fast as I can. My aim is to learn as much as I can. I have already spent a couple of days on the simulator to get used to the switches,” Daruvala said.
Seats for the 2023 F1 season are already drying up and young drivers like Nyck de Vries and Oscar Piastri have failed to secure a seat despite winning the F2 championship in 2019 and 2021 respectively.
“There are not many seats open, but I want to make an impression. If I get an opportunity to drive in F1 I want to be ready… make sure I have ticked all boxes when hopefully I get a seat.”
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