Red Bull hand Vips debut F1 drive, Kubica to run for Alfa Romeo

Spanish Grand Prix

Red Bull hand Vips debut F1 drive, Kubica to run for Alfa Romeo

Both will take part in FP1

Ian Parkes

Thursday 19 May 2022 11:12

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Red Bull junior driver Juri Vips is to be handed his debut practice outing with the team ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.

Vips will take over Sergio Perez's RB18 for the opening hour-long session on Friday at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.

The run is in line with new regulations introduced this season that dictate teams must allow a rookie driver to participate in two free practice sessions. A rookie is defined as someone who has not participated in more than two F1 races.

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Vips, who has previously driven a Red Bull in the end-of-season young driver test in Abu Dhabi, is again competing in F2 this season with Hitech Grand Prix.

After finishing sixth in last year's championship during which he won two races and was on the podium on four other occasions, he is eighth after three events this campaign.

Kubica gets Alfa Romeo run-out

Alfa Romeo, meanwhile, will again give veteran Robert Kubica a drive in FP1.

Kubica has already driven the team's C42 on two previous occasions so far this year, initially in pre-season testing in Barcelona, and most recently in a Pirelli tyre test.

Alfa Romeo's deal with title sponsors Orlen, a Polish oil refiner and petrol retailer, allows Kubica the odd opportunity to continue to drive in F1.

The 37-year-old will replace Zhou Guanyu in FP1.