Fittipaldi joins Haas F1 as 2019 test driver

Pietro Fittipaldi has been revealed as the Haas F1 Team’s official test driver for 2019 and will take part in the post-season Pirelli tyre test in Abu Dhabi later this month.

The Brazilian driver, grandson of two-time F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi, was announced at his home F1 round at Interlagos and will make his F1 debut driving the Haas VF-18 on the opening day of the tyre test in Abu Dhabi on November 27.

“I’m pleased to welcome Pietro Fittipaldi to Haas F1 Team and we look forward to working with him,” Guenther Steiner, Haas F1 team boss, said. “He brings a championship-winning pedigree from his junior open-wheel career, and more recently he has acquitted himself well running in the IndyCar series.

“We’re happy to provide Pietro his first test in a Formula One car off the back of those experiences. His subsequent role testing, and the feedback he’ll provide in support of our 2019 campaign, will no doubt further contribute to Haas F1 Team’s growth and development in Formula 1.”

Fittipaldi has collected an impressive junior career racing CV with titles in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (2011), Protyre Formula Renault Championship (2014), MRF Challenge Formula 2000 (2016) and World Series Formula V8 3.5 (2017).

The 22-year-old has contested six IndyCar rounds in 2018 with the highlight of a top ten finish in Portland at the penultimate round.

The Brazilian is naturally delighted to secure a deal with the F1 team and is relishing the opportunity ahead of 2019.

“I’m extremely appreciative to have secured a role with Haas F1 Team as their test driver,” Fittipaldi said. “I’d like to thank Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner for the opportunity to join the team.

“They’ve done an incredible job in Formula One, and to ask me to play a role in their continued success is naturally very exciting. I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the VF-18 in Abu Dhabi. I’ll carry that experience forward into 2019, and hopefully into a race seat in Formula 1 in the future.”