AlphaTauri is set to give FP1 run to Liam Lawson post the summer break, as Ferrari setting up the races for Robert Shwartzman.
It is not surprising that F2 racer Lawson will get a FP1 drive with AlphaTauri as it was predicted long back for it to happen. Team boss Franz Tost has now officially confirmed that the Kiwi will drive the F1 car during Belgium GP at Spa-Francorchamps.
It is part of the FIA regulations where F1 teams have to give track time to youngsters twice this year. While Red Bull fielded Juri Vips, this will be the first chance for AlphaTauri and they have opted for Lawson, who has already driven for them last year in Abu Dhabi.
“Currently, we plan to run Liam Lawson in FP1 in Spa,” said Tost, when asked about their plans. It remains to be seen if the Kiwi does both the sessions or just one, as he maybe in line for a Red Bull run too considering the situation with Vips.
They do have the likes of Jehan Daruvala, Ayumu Iwasa and Dennis Hauger too from F2, but it remains to be seen who gets a call-up. Among other teams, Ferrari are firm about giving Shwartzman a go in the car where he will drive for both the sessions.
Naturally, he won’t get to drive at tracks like Singapore, as Ferrari are still fixing up the races where does so. “For us it’s Robert Shwartzman that will do our two FP1s,” said Laurent Mekies.
“We haven’t exactly decided on which events it’s going to be. You are right in saying that you would not pick races like Singapore or races where the race drivers need more running. I don’t think we have an issue in doing it during one of the weekends where we have Pirelli testing.”
Aside these F1 teams, the interesting chapter will be for McLaren and Alpine, who are amid a driver situation. The latter was set to give a go to Oscar Piastri considering he is their reserve, but since the episode of him turning down a drive for 2023, things could change.
Pre-summer break, Piastri was the front-runner to get the FP1 run as Alan Permane also confirmed. But since there are rumours of him joining McLaren in 2023, it remains to be seen if the Australian still gets to do or if they opt for any other academy driver.
“It’s not a huge issue to find a weekend, there are plenty, and I think we’ll see Oscar in our car, either in Spa or Monza for the first time,” said Permane. If Piastri doesn’t gets the chance, they do have Jack Doohan from F2 and Victor Martins/Caio Collet from F3.
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