Med nytt F1 race redan nästa helg behövde Haas F1 Team ta snabba beslut efter Romain Grosjeans otäcka krasch i Bahrains GP igår. Idag bekräftar man att Pietro Fittipaldi ersätter fransmannen Grosjean till kommande helgens Sakhir GP.
Formel 1 stannar kvar på Sakhir International Circuit en helg till, och man kör Sakhirs Grand Prix den kommande helgen. Med tanke på de brännskador som Romain Grosjean ådrog sig i eldbollen efter sin krasch kommer han att avstå åtminstone ett race för att återhämta sig.
Gunther Steiner, Stallchef Haas F1 Team
“After it was decided that the best thing for Romain (Grosjean) was to skip at least one race, the choice to put Pietro (Fittipaldi) in the car was pretty easy,”
Pietro will drive the VF-20 and he’s familiar with us having been around the team for the past two seasons as a test and reserve driver. It’s the right thing to do and it’s obviously a good opportunity for him. He’s been patient and was always prepared for this opportunity – and now it has come. That’s why we want him in the car and I’m sure he’ll do a good job. It’s very demanding being called in at the last minute, but as I said, I think it’s the right thing to do for Haas F1 Team.”
Pietro Fittipaldi har, i sin roll som test-/reservförare, varit på plats under de flesta F1 race den här säsongen. Brasilianaren, sonson till dubbla F1-världsmästaren och dubbla Indy-500 vinnaren Emerson Fittipaldi, har bl.a. annat en mästerskapstitel från Formula V8 3.5 i sin meritlista. Han har även startat i flera IndyCar lopp och har tidigare testat med Haas F1 Team i VF-18, VF-19 bilen de senaste två säsongerna. Fredagens fria-träning blir dock första gången han sitter i årets VF-20 bil.
Pietro Fittipaldi
“Most importantly I’m happy Romain is safe and healthy,”
“We’re all very happy his injuries are relatively minor after such a huge incident. Obviously, it’s not an ideal set of circumstances to get my first opportunity to compete in Formula 1. But I’m extremely grateful to Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner for their faith in putting me behind the wheel this weekend. I’ve been with the team a lot this season, both trackside and working on simulator sessions. So I’m familiar with the team’s operating procedures on a grand prix weekend. It’s going to be exciting to make my first career start in Formula 1 – I’ll be giving it my all and I look forward to starting in free practice on Friday in Bahrain.” –