Haas keeps Ferrucci as F1 development driver

Santino Ferrucci will continue as a Haas F1 development driver for the third consecutive year in 2018.

Having been part of the youngest F1 team’s maiden campaign back in 2016, the 19-year-old will remain in the Haas fold this season acting as development driver behind current full-time drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen.

Ferrucci has completed two in-season F1 tests for Haas, at Silverstone in 2016 and at the Hungaroring in 2017, and is likely to be in action again this year to fulfil the team’s young driver test days but his F1 schedule is yet to be confirmed.

The US driver is set to contest his first full Formula 2 championship after switching to the series midway through 2017 for Trident and begins his 2018 campaign with the team at the season opener in Bahrain on 6-8 April.

“We’re pleased to have Santino back with Haas F1 Team and we look forward to his continuing development in F2,” Guenther Steiner, Haas team principal, said. “Santino is a young, American driver with plenty of potential and we’re very supportive of his desire to make it to Formula 1.”

Ferrucci is naturally thrilled to be retained by Haas for a third straight season and hopes to impress in both his F1 development driver role and his first full F2 campaign.

“My goal since I began racing is to become a Formula 1 driver, and to be an American who is part of an American team is something I take a tremendous amount of pride in,” Ferrucci said.

“My time with Haas F1 Team has really prepared me for my first full F2 season with Trident, and between the two teams I feel like I’m in the best position to succeed and, ultimately, get to Formula 1.”