Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Feature

When F1’s current drivers were super-subs

by Phillip Horton
5 years ago
A A
0
When F1’s current drivers were super-subs

Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) Sauber C36. Australian Grand Prix, Sunday 26th March 2017. Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Nico Hulkenberg will return to Formula 1 as a surprise substitute for Sergio Perez at Racing Point – but he is not the only driver on the 2020 grid who has been a late replacement for a rival.

Sebastian Vettel (2007)

Vettel was one of Formula 1’s hottest young talents when he was appointed BMW’s reserve driver mid-2006, taking up the role when Robert Kubica replaced Jacques Villeneuve in a race seat. When Kubica suffered an enormous crash in Canada in 2007 he was ruled out of the following weekend’s event in the United States, held at Indianapolis, and BMW called up 19-year-old Vettel. He qualified seventh, scored a point by finishing eighth, and then returned to his reserve role – albeit briefly. Red Bull came calling and three races later he was a full-time Toro Rosso driver.

Kevin Magnussen (2015)

Kevin Magnussen (DEN) McLaren MP4-30 crashes in the first practice session. Australian Grand Prix, Friday 13th March 2015. Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia.

Magnussen was set to act as McLaren’s test and reserve driver for 2015 after losing his seat to the returning Fernando Alonso. But when Alonso suffered an accident in pre-season testing he was ruled out of the opening round in Australia, prompting Magnussen into action. However it was a disastrous weekend for the Dane. He crashed in practice, qualified slowest as McLaren-Honda struggled dearly in its first outing, and didn’t even make the starting grid after his car failed on the reconnaissance lap. Alonso returned for Malaysia and Magnussen did not drive for McLaren again.

Antonio Giovinazzi (2017)

Giovinazzi failed to capture a race seat for 2017 in the wake of finishing GP2 runner-up to Pierre Gasly but secured a reserve deal with Ferrari. Sauber regular Pascal Wehrlein sustained a neck injury in a freak Race of Champions shunt in mid-January and scaled back his involvement in testing, allowing Giovinazzi some track time, but was declared fit for Australia. However after struggling for fitness in Friday practice Wehrlein withdrew and Giovinazzi got the call up. He qualified 16th, raced to 12th, and impressed – though undid his hard work with two big shunts next time out in China. Wehrlein returned for round three.

RelatedPosts

Oliver Bearman rued a crash in FP3 costing him eighth on the grid at Silverstone

Oliver Bearman explains FP3 blunder that denied him highest F1 start at British GP

7 hours ago
Charles Leclerc qualified in sixth place for the 2025 Formula 1 British Grand Prix

Charles Leclerc hints at ‘weird’ issue limiting Ferrari’s one-lap pace in F1 2025

7 hours ago

Daniil Kvyat (2017)

Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR12. United States Grand Prix, Saturday 21st October 2017. Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, USA.

Kvyat’s dismal 2017 looked to have ended when Red Bull’s patience snapped after he crashed out in Singapore, and the brand placed Pierre Gasly in the Toro Rosso for the rest of the campaign. But Gasly had to miss the US Grand Prix in order to contest the Super Formula finale while at the same time team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr. eventually pushed through a move to Renault. It therefore needed two drivers for Austin. Toro Rosso got on the phone to ex-junior Brendon Hartley – who remained until the end of 2018 – and also got Kvyat back for one event. After two rounds on the bench Kvyat was on the pace and scored a point. However, he was out after that round and did not race again until 2019 – when Toro Rosso re-hired him.  

Tags: BritishGPF1Nico HulkenbergSergio Perez
Share199Tweet124Share

Related Posts

IndyCar's hybrid system has been in use for a full year. Photo: Kevin Dejewski
Feature

Feature: Evaluating IndyCar’s hybrid power system one year on

2 days ago
Why Ferrari must tread carefully to avoid losing its most priceless F1 asset
Feature

Why Ferrari must tread carefully to avoid losing its most priceless F1 asset

3 days ago
Max Verstappen's opening-lap exit in Austria exposed how Red Bull would struggle in his absence
Feature

How home race horror exposed Red Bull’s alarming F1 reality without Max Verstappen

4 days ago
Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

Mid-Ohio is one of drivers' favorite courses on account of the elevation changes. Photo: Kevin Dejewski

IndyCar Mid-Ohio – Qualifying Results

July 5, 2025
Palou navigated the sweeping corners faster than anyone to earn pole. Photo: Kevin Dejewski

Alex Palou smokes the field to secure IndyCar pole at Mid-Ohio

July 5, 2025
Oliver Bearman rued a crash in FP3 costing him eighth on the grid at Silverstone

Oliver Bearman explains FP3 blunder that denied him highest F1 start at British GP

July 5, 2025
Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd