Augusto Fernandez is confirmed to join Yamaha as its MotoGP test rider, while Emma Felbermayr will represent Sauber in F1 Academy.
Augusto Fernandez –
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and Yamaha Motor Racing are delighted to announce that experienced MotoGP rider Augusto Fernandez will be reinforcing the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Test Team for the 2025 season. Fernandez has two years of experience in MotoGP (2023-2024) and six years in Moto2 (2017-2022), including a Moto2 World Championship title achieved in 2022, making him a well-established name amongst motorsports fans and someone very familiar with the MotoGP paddock.
Starting from the upcoming MotoGP shakedown test (scheduled in Sepang, Malaysia, from 31 January – 2 February), Fernandez will start his new testing job, riding the YZR-M1. Throughout 2025, he will take part in Official IRTA Tests and private Yamaha tests as well as various wildcard events with the aim of helping Yamaha’s engineers with their MotoGP bike development programme.
Lin Jarvis: “I am delighted to confirm that Augusto Fernandez is officially joining Yamaha for the 2025 season as a Yamaha Factory MotoGP Test Rider. Bike development is a priority for Yamaha as we challenge to return to winning ways at the earliest opportunity. We have signed Augusto to be our second Yamaha Test Rider alongside Cal Crutchlow. Cal was unfortunately unable to fulfil all his testing duties in 2024, and it became obvious that we needed to recruit a second rider to assist us with completing all essential activities for 2025.
“We believe Augusto will be a good fit for both the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Test Team and the YZR-M1 bike. Augusto is young and is fast, and he can test alongside Cal and learn the special methodology required from a full-time test rider. Our current performance ranking permits us to take full advantage of the maximum limit for the testing programme. In addition to the tests, we have the idea to participate at up to six wild-card rides, and Augusto will also be the go-to replacement rider in case any one of the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team riders or Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP riders are unable to race at any time in 2025.
“The many riding opportunities should allow Augusto to maintain his racing speed while he proceeds with the intensive testing obligations. Augusto has already started to work with us off track, and his first real test participation will be at the shakedown test in Sepang at the end of January 2025. In the meantime, we are following closely Cal’s improving physical condition after his arm issues this year, and we hope he will be able to return as soon as possible to resume his testing duties.”
Augusto Fernandez: “I’m very happy and super excited to join Yamaha as a test rider for 2025. It’s a huge honour to be part of the Yamaha family, and I want to thank everyone who made it happen. In this amazing new project, I will do my best to help Yamaha to be back where they deserve to be. I can’t wait to start our journey together!”
Emma Felbermayr –
A new young talent will be proudly sporting our colours on the F1 Academy grid, as Emma Felbermayr is announced as the team’s entrant in the all-female series for 2025. The soon-to-be 18-year-old will be racing for KICK Sauber F1 Team in her Rodin Motorsport-operated car, making her debut at the 2025 F1 Academy season-opener in Shanghai, China.
Hailing from Austria, and born in a family with rich motorsport heritage, as both her father and grandfather competed in the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans in several editions, Emma’s racing career began in karting at the age of seven, subsequently entering her first national race in the Micro Class the following year. After progressing through the Mini Class, she advanced to the Junior category and, at 13, competed in her first international race, finishing runner-up in the 2021 ADAC Ladies Cup.
In 2022, Emma moved up in the Senior category, taking part in the German Championship, WSK races, and the World Championship with TB Racing Team. After recovering from a rib injury at the beginning of 2023, Emma transitioned to the KZ category, competing in the German Championship, ADAC Kart Masters, and the World Championship in Wackersdorf, where she qualified 23rd overall out of 119 drivers.
This year, Emma has been competing in all major shifter karting events worldwide, including WSK-Karting and the World and European Championships. A new chapter in the young Austrian’s racing career will begin in 2025, as she moves up to single seaters, representing KICK Sauber F1 Team on the F1 Academy grid all around the world. As part of her racing programme, Emma will be also taking part in the 2025 Formula Winter Series as well as in the 2025 Spanish F4 Championship with Rodin Motorsport.
Mattia Binotto, COO & CTO, Sauber Motorsport: “We are delighted to welcome Emma to the team, as she prepares to make her F1 Academy debut in 2025 in our colours. Emma is young, but has already shown her potential, and we are looking forward to seeing her represent us on the international scene from next year. We are also thrilled to be partnering with Rodin Motorsport for our F1 Academy operations, counting on their decades-long experience with junior drivers in several series, and having most recently clinched the 2024 F1 Academy title. This marks the beginning of an exciting journey, and we can’t wait to see what we can achieve together. Welcome to the family, Emma!”
Emma Felbermayr, driver: “I’m proud and thrilled to be joining KICK Sauber F1 Team for the 2025 F1 Academy season. This is an incredible opportunity to take the next step in my racing career and to challenge myself at this exciting level. I’m looking forward to representing the team, growing as a driver, and making the most of the visibility and platform F1 Academy offers. I can’t wait to get started and see what we can achieve together!”
Benn Huntingford, Sporting Director, Rodin Motorsport: “We’re delighted to welcome Emma to Rodin Motorsport. She has shown great potential and resilience in karting and we look forward to supporting her in her transition into cars with F1 Academy. There will be a steep learning curve ahead but together with KICK Sauber F1 Team I’m confident that our combined experience and resources can give Emma the platform she needs to be successful. I’d like to thank KICK Sauber for entrusting Rodin Motorsport with this important step in Emma’s career.”
[The story is as per press release]
