Teenager Fairclough drives Aston Martin AMR23 at Silverstone

The 19-year-old British driver completed 26 laps of the Grand Prix circuit in the car that scored podium finishes just two seasons ago.

Fairclough’s prize test began with preparation at the Aston Martin Racing Technology Campus, where he underwent a seat fit and simulator session before heading across to the track. On the day, he carried out six runs and sampled a range of Pirelli tyres as he familiarised himself with the team and the car.

Reflecting on the experience, Fairclough said: “I’m extremely lucky to have the opportunity: it’s a dream come true driving a car that achieved F1 podiums just a couple of years ago. I can’t put it into words: the trust and capabilities these cars have at high speed is ridiculous."

“I cannot thank the team enough; it was eye-opening from the beginning, seeing the amount of effort that goes into the two cars at the campus, to everyone involved on the day of the track run. I went out there and gave it my all. I wanted to learn what I could and maximise what I got out of it," added the youngster.

"I was able to go out and perform straightaway because of the experience of the people around me. I always dreamt of driving a Formula 1 car since I was four years old, driving it was another level, the sensation of it has really given me the motivation to get to the pinnacle of motorsport," added Fairclough.

Despite cold and windy conditions, Fairclough impressed the Aston Martin engineers with his approach and confidence. Gerry Hughes, Chief Engineer F1 Evolution, explained: “Deagen handled his time on track especially well in such windy and cold conditions.

"He was very confident in high-speed areas, it’s impressive for someone who has not spent any time in a Formula 1 car. We focused on helping him optimise his lap time with low-speed technique, something we continued from his time in the sim at the AMRTC.

“He’s had some great experience in a Formula One car and now has some miles under him; he can now build on this in his future career and carry that experience and learning onwards.”

The 19-year-old Briton was an unstoppable force in his second British F4 campaign, earning plaudits for his record-setting victory tally, succession of podium finishes, fastest laps and pole positions, and the speed at which his single-seater career has accelerated.

He started 2025 by being named as the Silverstone Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award winner, following in the footsteps of illustrious previous winners David Coulthard, Jenson Button, George Russell and Lando Norris.

Two years ago, Deagen was competing at the wheel of a Sim Racing setup at his home in Surrey, UK. He entered, and won, the 2022 edition of the ROKiT Racing Star eSports competition, for which the prize was a fully funded season in British F4 for 2023.

In only two seasons of British F4, Fairclough has not only demonstrated his own enormous potential with his burgeoning collection of silverware, he is also a torchbearer for the next generation, for whom Sim Racing can be a viable pathway into motorsport. On his way to the British F4 crown, he won 14 of the year's 30 races, and took eight further podiums.

Deagen started karting at the age of five and moved to closed-wheel cars when he was 13 years old. Sim Racing helped him hone his skills in virtual open-wheel cars and three years on he was winning races and scoring podium finishes in real-world racing at tracks including Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Donington Park.

2024: British F4 Championship - champion with 14 wins, 22 podiums, 12 pole positions, 18 fastest laps
F4 United Arab Emirates Championship - seventh overall with two podiums
Euro 4 Championship - three races

2023: British F4 Championship - third overall with four wins, seven podiums, six fastest laps

2022: BRSCC Ford Fiesta Junior Championship - one win and one pole position from two races

2021: BRSCC Ford Fiesta Junior Championship - fifth overall with eight wins, 11 podiums, seven pole positions and 13 fastest laps
Junior Saloon Car Championship - two races

2020: Junior Saloon Car Championship - sixth overall with three podiums