Santino Ferrucci will stay on as Haas’ Formula 1 development driver throughout 2017, the American team has confirmed.
Ferrucci, 18, linked up with Haas last year and sampled the squad’s Formula 1 machinery during in-season testing at Silverstone, alongside his full-time role in GP3.
Ferrucci has committed to a second campaign in the GP3 championship this season with DAMS and will dovetail his race duties with a continuation of his developmental role within Haas.
“I said it last year when I became a part of Haas – my goal since I first started racing is to become a Formula 1 driver,” said Ferrucci.
“To be an American who is part of an American team is something I take a tremendous amount of pride in.
“I learned a lot last year in GP3 with DAMS and with Haas. The combination of the two allowed me to learn more and at a faster rate. I feel so much more prepared this year. I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner described Ferrucci as a racer with potential.
“We’re very happy to have Santino back with us and look forward to his continuing development in GP3,” commented Steiner.
“We liked what we saw of him last year in our test at Silverstone and his maturity inside and outside of the car is impressive. Santino is a young, American driver with plenty of potential who is learning a lot with DAMS and us.”
Haas has not yet named a test/reserve driver for this season though in 2016 Ferrari-backed Charles Leclerc completed Friday practice runs at a handful of Grands Prix.
