Shwartzman secures a Free Practice chance at Abu Dhabi
PREMA driver and 2019 Formula 3 champion Robert Shwartzman will get his first chance at driving Formula 1 machinery with Alfa Romeo at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Russian who has won three races in his maiden Formula 2 season and briefly led the championship will get a chance in a Free Practice session at Yas Marina.
Shwartzman will be the third Ferrari junior to taste Formula 1 machinery in the coming race weekends with Ferrari junior teammates Callum Ilott and Mick Schumacher will drive in a Free practice session at the Eifel Grand Prix weekend for Haas and Alfa Romeo respectively.
The Ferrari Driver Academy’s director Laurent Mekies said that the three practice sessions were arranged to help get the trio used to the current bred of Formula 1 cars.
The Frenchman thanked the Haas and Alfa Romeo teams in what he hopes will be a crucial step in their education on their way to Formula 1.
“We wanted to organize this test session so that our three best youngsters would be as well prepared as possible to tackle an event that will always be a special moment for them. It will be a chance to get to grips with a Formula 1 car, which is much more complicated than the car they are currently used to driving.
I would like to thank Haas and Alfa Romeo Racing for offering Callum, Mick, and Robert this opportunity. We believe strongly in our Academy, which has already proved its value, with Charles Leclerc, a driver on which the Scuderia can build its long term future.
Callum, Mick, and Robert have already proved their worth in the current Formula 2 season and this test is a further step in their education.”
It is unclear whether Shwartzman will replace Kimi Raikkonen or Antonio Giovinazzi for the session.
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* Image Credit: Formula Motorsport Limited
