Antonio Giovinazzi gets Haas practice outings - could it be a path back to F1?

Antonio Giovinazzi will make a return to F1 when he takes part in two FP1 outings with Haas at the Italian Grand Prix and the United States Grand Prix. 
Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) Ferrari Reserve
Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) Ferrari Reserve

♐The 28-year-old Italian will drive for Haas during opening practice at Monza and COTA, with regu🌱lar drivers Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher taking it in turns to vacate their seat for one session each. 

Ferrari reserve Giovinazzi, who previously made seven FP1 𓆏appearances with Haas back in 2017, made the switch to Formula E with Dragon Penske afteಞr losing his Alfa Romeo F1 seat at the end of the 2021 season. 

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Having made his F1 debut in 2017 with Sauber, Giovinazzi returned to F1 on a fullꩵ-time basis with Alfa Romeo, contesting 60 races and scoring a total of 21 points between 2019 and 2021. 

Haas say that Ferr🦂ari were keen to provide Giovinazzi with the opportunity to get some seat time in the new-generation F1 cars. 

“We’re happy to welcome Antonio Giovinazzi back to the team for the two FP1 outings,” said Haas team prin♏cipal Guenther Steiner. 

“Ferrari were keen to givꦡe Antonio some seat time in a current-spec Formula 1 car on a race weekend and we were naturally happy to assist. 

"We enjoyed a similar situation back in 2017 with Antonio and Ferrari – the clear difference between then and now is the experience he’ll have gained competing for the previous three seasons in Formula 1 and the feedback he’ll be able to g🎃ive us in Italy and America. 

“I’m looking forw🎀ard to seeing Antonio again and having him back in the paddock with us.”

 - Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) Haas F1 Team Test
- Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) Haas F1 Team Test

Giovinazzi’s outings will not fulfil Ha꧙as’ requirement to run a rookie driver during two practice se💛ssions in 2022. 

“I’m so gl🐼ad to have the chance to drive again in official F1 sessions,” said Giovinazz🍌i. 

“Besides simulator driving it is important to test a true car and I can’t wait to put my suit and helmet back on. It’ll be an opportunity t🐟o get confident with the new generation cars – it’s the best way to be ready if I were called as reserve driver.

"Driving on challenging and exciting tracks as Monza and COTA makes it even more thrilling. Thanks to🍸 Haas F1 Team and Scuderia Ferrari – I’m looking forward to giving my contribution to the team that counted 🎉on me already in 2017.”

An audition for a 2023 F1 seat? 

Upon losing his Alfa Romeo seat atꦐ the end of last season, Giovinazzi made it clear that he wanted to return to the F1 grid. 

A difficult roo💎kie Formula E campaign - in which Giovinazzi finished 23rd in the drivers’ championship - will have done little to have changed the Italian’s ambition of sealing a return🅠 to F1. 

While Giovinazzi’s call up has been explained as being a request of Haas’ engine supplier Ferrari, it raises further questions about the 2023 driver market, which 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:exploded into life just before F1’s summer 🅠break

Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) Alfa Romeo Racing
Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) Alfa Romeo Racing

Mick Schuma🔴cher’s future at Haas remains uncertain🔯, with the German on course to become a free agent at the end of the season when his current contract expires. 

Giovinazzi was believed to be in the frame to take the seat of the ousted Nikita Mazepin before Magnussen signed a ༺multi-year deal on the eve of the season. 

He has also been mooted as a potential replacement for Schumacher, who has recently been linked with Alpine. The Anglo-French out♔fit only have one driver under contract for 2023 following Fernando Alonso’s shock switch 🌳to midfield rival Aston Martin.

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