Sauber has confirmed that Antonio Giovinazzi will race for the team in Formula 1 next season, completing its 2019 line-up.
Giovinazzi has spent the last two years acting as reserve driver for both Ferrari and Sauber, carrying out simulator duties, test runs, as well as receiving the occasional FP1 outing for both Haas and Sauber.
Giovinazzi participated in two Grands Prix at the start of 2017 for Sauber, in place of the injured/unfit Pascal Wehrlein, but has only raced sporadically in sportscars since.
Giovinazzi was overlooked for a 2018 seat as Sauber, newly affiliated with Ferrari’s sister company Alfa Romeo, opted to sign Charles Leclerc and retain stalwart Marcus Ericsson.
But Giovinazzi remained in contention and Sauber has elected to sign the Italian full-time for 2019, when he will partner current Ferrari driver and 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen.
"I am delighted to be joining the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team," commented Giovinazzi. "This is a dream come true, and it is a great pleasure to have the chance to race for this team.
"As an Italian, it is a huge honour for me to represent a brand as iconic and successful as Alfa Romeo in our sport. I would like to thank the Scuderia Ferrari and the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team for giving me this great opportunity. I am very motivated and cannot wait to start working towards achieving great results together."
Team principal Frédéric Vasseur added: "We're very pleased to reveal the complete driver line-up for the 2019 season. We first signed Kimi Räikkönen, an extremely experienced driver who will contribute to the development of our car and will accelerate the progress of our team as a whole.
"Together with Alfa Romeo, we are delighted to welcome Antonio Giovinazzi, who will take the place of Charles Leclerc. We have already had the opportunity to work with him in the past and he has proven to have great potential. We are very determined and motivated. Our target is to continue progressing and fighting together for positions that count."
Ericsson will stay at Sauber in the role of third driver and brand ambassador.
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