Home Featured Ilott to drive for Alfa Romeo in F1 Abu Dhabi young driver test

Ilott to drive for Alfa Romeo in F1 Abu Dhabi young driver test

by Ida Wood

Photo: Sauber Group

Callum Ilott will contest Formula 1’s Abu Dhabi young driver test in December with Alfa Romeo Racing.

Ferrari junior Ilott was due to take part in FP1 at the Eifel Grand Prix with the Haas, but bad weather meant the 22-year-old didn’t get a chance to drive when the session was called off, and a replacement appearance during a race weekend has not been scheduled.

He has tested contemporary F1 machinery before though, having been called up by Alfa Romeo at the in-season Barcelona test in 2019.

“I am really looking forward to being in the car again in Abu Dhabi and I am grateful to Alfa Romeo Racing and the Ferrari Driver Academy for this opportunity,” said Ilott.

“Any chance to drive a Formula 1 car is important: it’s a way to grow my experience, not just in the cockpit, but also working with the team: the engineers and crew are among the best in the world and there is so much to learn from them, so I am going to make it count.”

Ilott’s primary campaign this year is Formula 2, and he is currently second in the points behind fellow Ferrari junior Mick Schumacher. The German is hotly tipped to be moving up to F1 next year with Haas, in a seat Ilott was previously linked to, but also had his FP1 debut at the Nurburgring’s Eifel GP with Alfa washed out.

“Callum is one of the most promising young drivers coming through the ranks, as his performance in F2 has shown this year,” said Frederic Vasseur, team principal of Alfa Romeo Racing.

“He was unlucky to miss out on a chance to show his ability last month, when FP1 was called off at the Nurburgring, so he thoroughly deserves his outing with the team in Abu Dhabi.

“His attitude and work ethic have left a very positive impression with the team when he tested with us last year and testing with him in Abu Dhabi is something we are really looking forward to.”

A possible race seat at Alfa Romeo in 2021 for Ilott is no longer available, with the Italo-Swiss team deciding on retaining its current line-up of 2007 F1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen and the Ferrari-affiliated Antonio Giovinazzi.