Joshua Dürksen completes his first F1 test with Mercedes, a first for Paraguay
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS development driver Joshua Dürksen has completed his first Formula 1 test, driving the W16 E Performance for two days at Portimão and becoming the first Paraguayan to test a modern F1 car.
- 187
- 875 km
- 2 days
- 22
What Happened
Joshua Dürksen, a development driver for the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, has completed his first Formula 1 test. The 22-year-old ran a two-day programme at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, Portugal, at the wheel of the W16 E Performance, the car with which the team won races in the 2025 season. Over the two days he worked closely with the team's engineers on an extensive programme focused on understanding the car's systems and on performance runs, while building up his experience of F1 machinery. He completed 187 laps for a total distance of 875 kilometres, almost three Grand Prix distances.
187laps
A total of 875 km at Portimão, almost three Grand Prix distances.
- Earlier this year Dürksen became the first Paraguayan driver to be officially accepted into an F1 team's programme.
- He is now the first driver from his country to drive a modern F1 car, breaking new ground for Paraguayan motorsport.
- His first F1 test covered 187 laps and 875 km over two days at Portimão.
“That was a day and a week I will remember for the rest of my life. Driving an F1 car for the first time is every young driver's dream, and reaching this milestone as the first Paraguayan makes it all the more special for me. I am incredibly grateful to Mercedes for this opportunity and for the trust they place in me. So many people supported me on my path: my family, my sponsors and everyone in Paraguay who followed my career and believed in me. Sitting at the wheel of the W16 was an incredible experience. The performance, the brakes, the cornering speeds: everything takes place on a completely different level. I learned an enormous amount over these two days and enjoyed every lap. I hope this moment will inspire young people in Paraguay to believe that they too can compete on the world stage.”
“It is always a special moment when a young driver gets his first experience in an F1 car. Joshua did an excellent job during this test. He approached the programme with maturity, professionalism and a real willingness to learn. Over the two days he worked effectively with the engineers, built his confidence step by step and delivered exactly what we had hoped for from him. This is an important step in his development, and he should be proud of what he has achieved, not only for himself but also for his country.”
Dürksen came through the junior categories and is now firmly established in Formula 2, where he has taken numerous wins and podium finishes and consistently races at the front of the field. Alongside his Formula 2 season he continues his duties as a development driver for the team, supporting simulator development and technical activities. The test in Portimão marks the most recent step in his career.
Why this matters
Dürksen is the first Paraguayan to be taken into an F1 team's programme and the first from his country to drive a modern F1 car, a historic moment for Paraguayan motorsport and a major step in his own career. He continues as a Mercedes development driver alongside his Formula 2 season, working on simulator development and technical activities.
Terms in This Story
- Development driver
- A driver who works for a Formula 1 team in roles such as simulator work and technical support rather than racing the car on grand prix weekends.
- Formula 2
- The main feeder series below Formula 1, in which drivers compete for results that can lead to a Formula 1 seat.
- Grand Prix distance
- The length of a single Formula 1 race, often used as a yardstick for how far a car has run in testing.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.