BREAKING: Giovinazzi gets two FP1 outings for Haas in Monza and COTA
It was announced by Haas F1 Team today that Antonio Giovinazzi will get two Free Practice outings with the American team in Monza and COTA.
Antonio Giovinazzi, who left F1 last year, and is Scuderia Ferrari's reserve driver for 2022, will participate in two FP1 sessions during the second half of the season, as Haas will let the Italian drive the VF-22 in two Grands Prix, the Italian GP in Monza and the USA GP in COTA.
It is not the fist time that Giovinazzi will be driving for Haas, as he has driven for the team again back in 2017, when he completed 7 sessions in the American outfit that season, driving the VF-17. The Italian driver will replace Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher, during FP1 in Italy and the USA, respectively.
What Haas F1 Team Principle, Guenther Steiner said: "We’re happy to welcome Antonio Giovinazzi back to the team for the two FP1 outings. 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."
Antonio Giovinazzi also commented on his anticipated FP1 outings: "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. 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."
Meanwhile, he has also been rumoured to replace Mick Schumacher for the 2023 season, although nothing has been confirmed yet. The American team is considering giving the Italian another chance in Formula 1, but there's only a few reports that say so.
Schumacher has highly underperformed during the first half of the season, especially in comparison to his teammate, Kevin Magnussen, but has shown some good elements, scoring his first ever points of his Formula 1 career in Silverstone, at the British Grand Prix.