Felipe Drugovich took over for Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll in the first practice session at the Italian Grand Prix this weekend, gaining some track mileage, but Van der Garde has emphasized how 'extremely difficult' it is to follow the team about all season and seldom have an opportunity to display your abilities. Aston Martin's current driver roster includes Lance Stroll, son of team owner Lawrence, and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, both of whom are scheduled to return to the squad next year. This suggests that Drugovich is unlikely to be promoted to the team anytime soon.
The latter's current driver lineup includes Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas, although only Bottas is under contract for next year. Zhou's F1 future remains uncertain, as the team has yet to announce a contract renewal. Giving Drugovich a chance to earn a seat.