Robert Shwartzman will make his long-awaited first Formula One appearance when he takes part in Free Practice One at the United States Grand Prix for Ferrari.
Last season’s Formula 2 runner-up will replace either Carlos Sainz or Charles Leclerc for the session, with the team also confirming that he would compete in another Grand Prix weekend to fulfill the team’s obligation to run a Young Driver in two Free Practice One session over the course of the season.
He has previously raced under a Russian license, but with the FIA having a ban on all Belarusian and Russian licensees after the outbreak of war with Ukraine, the Tel-Aviv-born driver has switched his license to his country of birth, Israel.
When asked previously, Ferrari’s race director Laurent Mekies said; “For us it’s Robert Shwartzman that will do our two FP1s,” Mekies said in Hungary. “We haven’t exactly decided on which events it’s going to be.
“You would not pick races like Singapore or races where the race drivers need more running. I don’t think we have an issue in doing it during one of the weekends where we have Pirelli testing.”
The current Formula One season is closing in on its conclusion, with the European leg of the season now over. In Austin, Logan Sargent will also be on track for Williams as they completed their requirement of young driver sessions, with other teams expected to announce their plans shortly.