Paraguayan racing driver Joshua Dürksen has made national motorsport history after completing his first Formula 1 test with Mercedes in Portugal. Mercedes confirmed the achievement on Tuesday, 22 September, following a two-day testing programme. Dürksen drove the Mercedes W16 E Performance at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimão. The 22-year-old became the first Paraguayan driver to drive a modern Formula 1 car.
The milestone represents another major step for Dürksen, who currently competes in Formula 2 with Invicta Racing and serves as a Mercedes Development Driver. During the two-day programme, Dürksen completed 187 laps and covered 875 kilometres, equivalent to almost three Grand Prix distances. The programme focused on understanding the car’s systems, completing performance runs and gaining experience with Formula 1 machinery.
“This is a day, and a week, that I will remember for the rest of my life,” Dürksen said on Mercedes AMG F1’s website. “Driving a Formula One car for the first time is something every young driver dreams about.”
From Paraguay to Formula 2
The significance of the test becomes clearer when looking at where Dürksen’s journey began. Born in Asunción in 2003, Dürksen began karting before moving into European single-seater racing. His career subsequently took him through categories including UAE Formula 4, Italian Formula 4 and ADAC Formula 4.
Dürksen stepped up to Formula 2 in 2024, becoming the first Paraguayan to compete successfully at this level of international single-seater racing. During his rookie season with AIX Racing, he secured four podium finishes and two victories, finishing 10th in the Drivers’ Championship.
His first F2 victory came in Baku in September 2024, making him the first Paraguayan to win a race in the championship. He returned with AIX Racing in 2025 and finished ninth overall before moving to Invicta Racing for the 2026 season.
In February 2026, Mercedes added another chapter to his career by signing Dürksen as a Development Driver. The role includes simulator development and engineering activities alongside his Formula 2 commitments.
A landmark season for Dürksen
Only weeks before his Formula 1 test, Dürksen achieved another landmark weekend at Monza. The Paraguayan won both the Sprint and Feature races during the Formula 2 weekend in Italy. The double victory took him to eight career wins in the championship, equalling the record for the most victories in Formula 2’s current era. His performance at Monza followed another victory earlier, when he won the Sprint Race at Melbourne’s Albert Park.
After years of racing, travelling and gradually moving up the ranks, Dürksen finally found himself driving the car he had dreamed of since discovering motorsport.
“Getting behind the wheel of the W16 was an unbelievable experience. The performance, the braking, the cornering speeds: everything is on another level.”
After Joshua Dürksen made history, he shared a simple message with his supporters back home: “Paraguay, this is for you!”
