Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi will replace Sauber’s injured German Pascal Wehrlein at the first pre-season test in Barcelona next week, the Swiss-based Formula One team said on Friday. German driver Pascal Wehrlein has been ruled out of the first Formula One test of the season following a back injury he sustained after a huge crash in Miami.
“We took the decision that Pascal will not be driving in the first test in Barcelona,” Sauber team Principal Monisha Kaltenborn said in a statement. “We will monitor his medical progress and will then decide on the next steps.”
Wehrlein had told his Twitter followers last week that he would not be testing due to a back injury sustained at the Race of Champions in Miami in January. Sauber had not named a replacement until Friday, however. Wehrlein, who has joined Sauber from now-defunct Manor, will still attend the test at the Circuit de Catalunya to familiarise himself with the team and procedures. Wehrlein added: “It is a pity that I cannot be in the car during the first test days, but I will be in Barcelona in order to get familiar with the team’s procedures and also to follow the Sauber C36-Ferrari on track.”
Ferrari’s third driver, 23-year-old Italian Giovinazzi, will drive in the pre-season test at the Circuit de Catalunya from 27 February to 2 March. “I thank Sauber for making this real, and also Ferrari for allowing me to replace Pascal,” said Giovinazzi.
Wehrlein spectacularly rolled his car following a collision with Felipe Massa at the end-of-season Race of Champions exhibition event in January. While the 22-year-old walked away from the incident, he has been forced to sit out the first four-day test, which begins in Barcelona on February 27, on medical grounds.
“I have to skip the first winter test due to medical advice because of a back issue,” Wehrlein wrote on Twitter. “I feel sorry for the team but we’ll come back stronger!” Wehrlein, a member of the Mercedes young driver academy, will race for Sauber this season after missing out on a seat alongside Lewis Hamilton.
Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi is tipped to replace Wehrlein in Barcelona.
