Drugovich departs from his position as a reserve driver for Aston Martin.

      "I believe the change occurred at the ideal moment."

      Felipe Drugovich has announced that he will depart from Aston Martin at the conclusion of the season, bringing his three-year tenure as the team's reserve driver to an end. The 25-year-old Brazilian has secured a deal with Andretti to compete in Formula E, effectively putting his Formula 1 aspirations on hold for now. It is widely anticipated that Yuki Tsunoda, backed by Honda, will take his place at Aston Martin in 2026.

      "I absorbed as much knowledge as possible during these three years and, from watching the drivers from an external perspective, I feel I gained more insight than I expected," he said, as reported by Italy’s Autosprint. "This experience was beneficial, and I believe the change has come at the right time."

      Drugovich, who won the Formula 2 championship in 2022, expressed some regret over not racing full-time in recent years. "If I had known how these three years would unfold, I would have definitely aimed to compete in full championships sooner. That’s what I truly enjoy," he stated. "However, I felt it was crucial to do everything I could to secure a Formula 1 seat. If that opportunity hadn’t materialized, I would have moved on, and here we are."

      Reflecting on his time with Aston Martin, Drugovich mentioned he had only limited interaction with Adrian Newey, who joined the team this year. "The only contact I had with him was at Silverstone," he recalled. "I introduced myself, and that was the extent of our interaction. He doesn’t communicate much with anyone in the team; nobody knows what he’s up to. While everyone is aware of his work, he doesn’t really share it, which is fine. He’s very focused on his tasks. For this reason, I also anticipate that Aston Martin will perform exceptionally well next year."