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Haas Reserve Driver Pietro Fittipaldi Will Replace Romain Grosjean for Next Weekend's F1 Race

Photo credit: NurPhoto - Getty Images
Photo credit: NurPhoto - Getty Images

From Road & Track

The Haas Formula 1 team announced today that Pietro Fittipaldi, the team's reserve driver, will make his F1 debut at this weekend's Sakhir Grand Prix, filling Romain Grosjean's seat after the French driver was ruled out of racing due to injuries sustained in a horrifying first-lap crash during yesterday's Barhain Grand Prix.

According to Motorsport.com, Grosjean will be released from the hospital on Tuesday, but burns to the backs of his hands mean he won't be fit to race on Sunday.

Fittipaldi, the grandson of two-time F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi, has spent the past two years with Haas as a test and reserve driver. Before that, he raced in IndyCar, the World Endurance Championship, and DTM. In 2017, he one the World Series Formula V8 3.5 championship. It's safe to say he's qualified for the job.

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"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," the 24-year-old Brazilian said in a statement. "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.”

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