Pietro Fittipaldi will make his Formula 1 debut at the Sakhir Grand Prix, Haas F1 Team announced Nov. 30.
Fittipaldi will replace the injured Romain Grosjean, who escaped from a fiery crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend.
In 2020, Fittipaldi has been a reserve driver for Haas.
“Most importantly I’m happy Romain is safe and healthy,” Fittipaldi said in a tewm release. “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.”
Fittipaldi is part of the famed Fittipaldi racing family; he’s the grandson of former F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi and brother of fellow driver Enzo.
Stateside, Fittipaldi made six NTT IndyCar Series starts in 2018 for Dale Coyne Racing, with a best finish of ninth at Portland International Raceway.
A timetable for Grosjean’s return has not yet been set.
About the author
Rutherford is the managing editor of Frontstretch, a position he gained in 2015 after serving on the editing staff for two years. At his day job, he's a journalist covering music and rock charts at Billboard. He lives in New York City, but his heart is in Ohio -- you know, like that Hawthorne Heights song.
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