Pietro Fittipaldi will retain his role as Haas’ Formula 1 team and reserve driver for the 2021 season.
Fittipaldi, 24, joined Haas in 2019 and was drafted in to race for the squad at the final two grands prix of 2020.
Haas has recruited an all-rookie line-up of Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin for 2021, ending Fittipaldi’s hopes of a full-time seat, but he will remain affiliated with the team.
“I’m very happy to be able to continue into my third year with Haas F1 Team,” said Fittipaldi.
“I’m grateful to Gene [Haas] and Guenther [Steiner] for the opportunity once again. I’ve been working with the engineers now for a couple of years and I really feel like it’s a big family at Haas.
“With the two races I ran last year, it just helped me gain even more experience, and I’m sure that’s going to help me be able to contribute more to the team as a result.
“I’m really looking forward to the new season and I’m just really excited to be continuing my relationship with Haas and being with them again in Bahrain in March.”
Fittipaldi finished both of his races as Romain Grosjean’s stand-in, taking 17th in Bahrain, and 19th in Abu Dhabi.
“We’re all delighted to continue our relationship with Pietro,” said Steiner.
“The role of test and reserve driver means you might be called up to drive at very short notice and that turned out to be the case for Pietro in Bahrain at the end of 2020.
“Despite the demands of driving with little time to prepare, he undoubtedly did a solid job for us – not least as he hadn’t even tested the VF-20.
“He didn’t get caught up in the moment, he proved patient and ultimately, he did what he was asked to do – he brought the car home in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.
“That first-hand race experience will only serve to add value in terms of what he brings to the team in his role this season. We look forward to working with Pietro and having him with us again throughout the year.”
Discussion about this post