Ferrari test driver Robert Shwartzman will replace Carlos Sainz for the opening practice session at this weekend’s Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix.
Shwartzman became Ferrari’s test driver in 2022 – having finished runner-up to Oscar Piastri in Formula 2 – and fulfilled the squad’s obligation to run a rookie in two practice sessions.
Shwartzman has been competing in the GT World Challenge Europe this year after returning to active competition following a 2022 season spent on the sidelines.
So far only McLaren, AlphaTauri and Williams have completed one of the two rookie sessions this year after their respective full-time debutants did so in Bahrain.
Mercedes is the only other team to have partially communicated its plan for young drivers with Formula 2 title contender Fred Vesti set to drive the W14 in Mexico City.
“Robert will do Zandvoort in Carlos’ car, and he will do another one – probably Abu Dhabi – in Charles’ car,” said Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur.
Vasseur said the decision on when to give up a practice session came down to the race drivers.
“I know it’s not an easy situation, but Carlos was very direct,” said Vasseur.
“It’s not so easy to decide because for sure you can’t do it in Singapore or in Japan or Las Vegas, and you have some Sprint events in Austin and Qatar that you can’t do it.
“Then you have the races with the tyre allocation a bit different that’s also tricky to do it, so at the end of the day you don’t have so many options.”
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