Sebastien Buemi is present with Red Bull Racing at this weekend’s Portuguese Grand Prix in his capacity as the company’s reserve driver.
Buemi has long been associated with the Red Bull team and raced for its junior team, Toro Rosso, between 2009 and 2011.
Sergio Sette Camara has acted as Red Bull’s reserve this year but the Brazilian is now in Japan to compete in Super Formula after missing the opening two rounds due to travel restrictions amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Should he be needed due to Covid complications or otherwise, Buemi is ready to jump in for Max Verstappen or Alexander Albon at Red Bull and Pierre Gasly or Daniil Kvyat at AlphaTauri.
Since leaving Formula 1 at the end of 2011 Buemi has found success in sportscars, winning the World Endurance Championship on three occasions (2014, 2018-19) and triumphing at Le Mans three times (2018, 2019, 2020).
Buemi also races full-time in Formula E, winning the 2015-16 championship and holds the record for the most race wins in the all-electric series, with 13.
He last tested Formula 1 machinery in 2019 when he participated in a tyre test for Red Bull at Silverstone.
Nico Hulkenberg has been the only sub used so far this year, as he replaced Sergio Perez at Racing Point for both Silverstone events after the Mexican tested positive for Covid-19.
He was called up once again last time out at the Nurburgring when Lance Stroll sat out qualifying and the race after falling ill, which was later revealed to be Covid-19 following a positive test result.
Hulkenberg is also present at Portimao this weekend with Racing Point.
