Antonio Giovinazzi replaces Pascal Wehrlein for pre-season testing in Barcelona.
Following his accident in the Race of Champions in Miami in last January, Pascal Wehrlein had been forced to sit off for the first week of testing in Barcelona. Italian driver Antonio Giovinazzi will replace him for his first official tests in F1.
Antonio Giovinazzi came under the spotlights last season in GP2 Series during the exceptional week-end of Baku when he took his two first wins in the series in the same week-end. He finished runner-up behind Pierre Gasly and rookie champion and he also signed a contract with Ferrari as third driver. He comments:
“I thank the Sauber F1 Team for making this real, and also Ferrari for allowing me to replace Pascal for test one in Barcelona.”
These tests will be a first for the 23-year-old Italian who will make his debuts as an official driver in F1. He had already tested for Ferrari in Fiorano but it will be the first time he will test a current F1 car. Pascal Wehrlein, still uncertain for the second week of testing, will be alongside Giovinazzi in Barcelona. He adds:
“It is a pity that I cannot be in the car during the first test days, but I will be in Barcelona in order to get familiar with the team’s procedures and also to follow the Sauber C36-Ferrari on track.”