14 - 16 March
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WATCH: Juri Vips makes his Formula 1 race weekend debut at the Spanish Grand Prix
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Juri Vips had what he described as an "amazing" experience after he made history by becoming the first Estonian driver to take part in a Formula 1 race weekend, with the 21-year-old F2 racer taking over from Sergio Perez in the Red Bull RB18 in the first practice session at the Spanish Grand Prix.
The Red Bull junior driver – who finished in 20th in the session – provided some detail about his first experience in an F1 race weekend.
"My experience today was amazing," said Vips. "It was a busy session, we did lots of aero mapping so we never planned to do any push laps. I can see why F1 is so hard because these sessions are very hectic!"
Vips was one of two rookie drivers to take part in FP1, with the other being Mercedes junior Nyck de Vries – who finished in P18 – after he took over from Alex Albon in the Williams.
Vips and De Vries' opportunities were Red Bull and Williams fulfilling one of their two mandated young driver sessions of the year, a new rule implemented for 2022.
Vips had a busy day, returning to F2 after FP1 for qualifying and coming home in P2, just 0.023s behind pole-sitter Jack Doohan.
Click on the video player above to see Vips in action around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
'Amazing experience' in FP1 for Red Bull junior driver Juri Vips
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