Haas F1 Test and Reserve Driver Pietro Fittipaldi will drive the VF-23 at the Pirelli tire test in Silverstone next month, joining full-time drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, the American team confirmed on Thursday.
Brazilian racer Pietro Fittipaldi will step into the cockpit of the VF-23 for the first time this season, fulfilling driving duties as the test and reserve driver for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, sampling the prototype tires for next season at Silverstone on July 12th.
Following the announcement made by the American squad, Fittipaldi, who last week competed at the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), earning a front-row LMP2 start at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, commented: “I’m very happy to be back behind the wheel of a MoneyGram Haas F1 Team car, this time in Silverstone.
“It’s going to be exciting for me because I’ve never driven a Formula 1 car around Silverstone, and I think that’s one of the most classic tracks in the sport.
“Just as I’m excited, I am also focused on doing a great job for the team, trying to learn as much as possible for them in terms of car development.”
Following the 2023 British Grand Prix, testing will proceed on Tuesday through Wednesday.
As per Haas’s schedule, full-time drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen will share driving duties on Tuesday at the wheel of the VF-23.
Meanwhile, Fittipaldi will drive all day Wednesday, completing the outfit participation in testing.
Speaking about his upcoming outing with the VF-23, Fittipaldi outlined: “The Pirelli tire test is going to be an important test, and I’m very much looking forward to doing a great job for Haas. I want to thank the team for the opportunity to drive the VF-23.”
The 26-year-old driver joined the team in 2018, and ever since, he has continued to work as its official test and reserve driver, gaining valuable knowledge in the simulator as on-track behind the wheel of Haas machinery over the years.
In that regard, Guenther Steiner, Team Principal of MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, asserted: “There aren’t many reserve drivers who have the experience Pietro has, so his feedback on the VF-23 will prove invaluable to us.
“Pietro has always had an impressive work ethic and his passion to learn and support the team in its objectives has been key in his continuation with us. His full calendar of two other race programs only benefits MoneyGram Haas F1 Team, and providing him time in this year’s challenger means he’s once again ready for any eventuality.”
In 2023, aside from competing at the WEC championship, Fittipaldi is also contesting the IMSA Sports Car Championship.
Throughout five seasons together, the grandson of two-time Formula One world champion Emerson Fittipaldi hit the track on different occasions.
In December 2020, he started two Grand Prix (Sakhir and Abu Dhabi), subbing in for injured driver Romain Grosjean, which marked his maiden racing weekend as a Formula One driver.
By the end of the 2021 season, the Brazilian stepped foot in the 2019 ‘mule’ car on the second day of the Pirelli 18-inch tires test in Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina, taking over for former Haas driver Nikita Mazepin, who tested positive for Covid-19 at the time.
Last season, he drove the VF-22 in pre-season and post-season testing, and also took part in two free-practice sessions in Mexico City and Abu Dhabi.
