Callum Ilott to get Alfa Romeo outing in Abu Dhabi

Alfa Romeo

Ilott to get Alfa Romeo outing in Abu Dhabi

Bad weather caused Ilott to miss a Haas FP1 outing at the Nürburgring

Sam Hall

Thursday 19 November 2020 17:56 Updated: 18:07

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Callum Ilott will drive the Alfa Romeo C39 at the post-season young driver test in Abu Dhabi.

Ilott had been due to make his Formula 1 debut in first practice with Haas at the Nürburgring in October, only for thick fog to prevent the session from taking place.

Mick Schumacher had been in line to make his bow with Alfa Romeo that Friday, but the German now appears set to join Haas in 2021 and so will likely complete the Abu Dhabi test with the American outfit.

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Ilott, second in the F2 standings behind Schumacher and who previously completed running for Alfa Romeo in Spain in 2019, will drive this year's car on December 15, two days after the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi.

He said: "I am really looking forward to being in the car again in Abu Dhabi and I am grateful to Alfa Romeo and the Ferrari Driver Academy for this opportunity.

"Any chance to drive a Formula One 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."

Alfa Romeo has already announced Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi will be continuing as its driver partnership for 2021 and, while unable to offer a race seat to the Briton, team boss Frédéric Vasseur has spoken positively about the 22-year-old.

“Callum is one of the most promising young drivers coming through the ranks, as his performance in F2 has shown this year," said Vasseur.

"He was unlucky to miss out on a chance to show his ability last month when FP1 was called off at the Nürburgring, 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."

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