Ferrari Prospect Dino Beganovic Reflects on Dream Opportunity to Partner Lewis Hamilton During Austrian Grand Prix Practice
Promising Ferrari junior driver Dino Beganovic has described his recent Formula 1 experience alongside seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton as a dream come true. The young Swede, who has both Swedish and Bosnian heritage, participated in Free Practice 1 at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix as part of Ferrari’s driver development programme. This opportunity, he explained, gave him a valuable “taste” of life at the top level of motorsport and further fuelled his desire to reach the Formula 1 grid full-time.
Dino Beganovic is currently a standout talent within the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy and has already been trusted with two FP1 outings this season—one during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend and the other more recently at Spielberg. Despite sitting in 10th position in the FIA Formula 2 Championship standings, Dino Beganovic has made a strong impression during his appearances in Formula 1 sessions, earning praise for his composure, technical feedback, and professional approach.
At just 21 years old, Dino Beganovic is already working closely with two of the biggest names in Formula 1: Charles Leclerc and newly-signed Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton. Observing both drivers up close, particularly during official race weekends, has offered him a rare insight into the inner workings of a top-tier Formula 1 operation. The Swedish-Bosnian racer admitted that the experience of sharing the garage with Hamilton was something he never imagined would happen so early in his career.
He revealed that if someone had told him just a year ago that he would be stepping into Charles Leclerc’s seat during a Grand Prix weekend and working directly alongside Lewis Hamilton, he would have found it hard to believe. Yet that is precisely what happened at the Red Bull Ring, as Dino Beganovic took the wheel for Ferrari in the first practice session while the Monegasque observed from the sidelines. The symbolic nature of temporarily replacing Charles Leclerc while sharing the garage with Hamilton made the moment even more special for the aspiring Formula 1 driver.
Dino Beganovic acknowledged that although he has not yet reached his ultimate goal—securing a full-time seat in Formula 1—opportunities like these serve as critical motivation. He views each appearance as a powerful reminder of what he is working toward and as encouragement to keep striving for that next step in his career. Every “taste” of Formula 1, as he called it, only reinforces his ambition and commitment to improve.
Beyond the thrill of driving the car, Dino Beganovic has gained valuable insights from observing how both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton interact with the Ferrari team. He has spent time carefully studying their communication with engineers, their approach to feedback, and how they lead the team through data-driven development. This behind-the-scenes exposure has proven to be as educational as the time spent on track.
One of the most striking observations for Dino Beganovic has been Lewis Hamilton’s enduring hunger for success. Despite being 40 years old and having already secured seven world championship titles, Hamilton’s relentless drive to claim an eighth title continues to impress those around him. Beganovic noted that although there may not be significant differences in how top drivers work with their teams, Hamilton’s intensity and commitment at this stage of his career stands out. He observed that Hamilton remains highly motivated, pushing both himself and the team at Maranello to reach the very top once again.
The young Ferrari protégé concluded that Hamilton’s energy and desire to help Ferrari return to championship-winning form has had a lasting impact on him. For Dino Beganovic, witnessing this level of dedication firsthand has only reinforced his own aspirations to one day compete as a full-time Formula 1 driver, ideally for Ferrari. With more opportunities like these, and continued progress in the junior ranks, that dream may not be far away.
Leave a Reply