Haas to run Giovinazzi in two FP1 sessions in 2022

Ferrari reserve Antonio Giovinazzi will return to Formula 1 track action in 2022 when he runs for Haas in FP1 at both the Italian and United States Grands Prix.

The Italian lost his race seat at Alfa Romeo at the end of 2021 after three seasons with the Hinwil team, and embarked on a racing career in Formula E with Dragon Penske Racing while dovetailing the Ferrari F1 reserve role with Haas race driver Mick Schumacher for this season.

Ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix – the first race after F1’s summer break – Haas announced Giovinazzi would test the VF-22 at Monza and the Circuit of The Americas, with Ferrari keen to give the 28 year old some time in 2022-spec Formula 1 machinery.

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This is not the first time Giovinazzi has performed such duties with Haas, having completed seven FP1 sessions for the American outfit in 2017.

“We’re happy to welcome Antonio Giovinazzi back to the team for the two FP1 outings,” said Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner. “Ferrari were keen to give Antonio some seat time in a current-spec Formula 1 car on a race weekend and we were naturally happy to assist.

“We enjoyed a similar situation back in 2017 with Antonio and Ferrari – the clear difference between then and now is the experience he’ll have gained competing for the previous three seasons in Formula 1 and the feedback he’ll be able to give us in Italy and America. I’m looking forward to seeing Antonio again and having him back in the paddock with us.”

Giovinazzi, who failed to score a point during his debut season in Formula E this year, said: “I’m so glad to have the chance to drive again in official F1 sessions. Besides simulator driving, it is important to test a true car and I can’t wait to put my suit and helmet back on.

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“It’ll be an opportunity to get confident with the new generation cars – it’s the best way to be ready if I were called as reserve driver. Driving on challenging and exciting tracks as Monza and COTA makes it even more thrilling. Thanks to Haas F1 Team and Scuderia Ferrari – I’m looking forward to giving my contribution to the team that counted on me already in 2017.”

Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen will vacate their seat for one session each to accommodate Giovinazzi, who has 62 F1 career starts and a tally of 21 points.

Haas, meanwhile, will be obliged to make their car available for two further Free Practice 1 sessions this year under rule 3.12.2 of the Sporting Regulations, which requires teams to offer mandatory FP1 outings to a driver who has participated in no more than two Grands Prix. Haas reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi is eligible, having raced just twice for the team in 2020.