Sauber has confirmed that Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi will replace Pascal Wehrlein for the pre-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya next week.
Wehrlein, who has joined Sauber from Manor, sustained a back injury after crashing at the Race of Champions in Miami last month, and has been advised to sit out the test.
Giovinazzi has consequently been drafted in to pilot Sauber’s C36-Ferrari next week alongside regular racer Marcus Ericsson.
The Italian claimed five victories to finish runner-up in last year’s GP2 championship, and joined Ferrari as its reserve driver in December.
Giovinazzi received his first taste of Formula 1 machinery recently when he sampled Ferrari’s 2015 car during a private test at Fiorano.
Sauber has not yet communicated the manner in which Giovinazzi and Ericsson will split duties next week.
“I thank the Sauber F1 Team for making this real, and also Ferrari for allowing me to replace Pascal for test one in Barcelona,” said Giovinazzi.
Team boss Monisha Kaltenborn added: "We took the decision that Pascal will not be driving in the first test in Barcelona. We will monitor his medical progress and will then decide on the next steps."
