Ferrucci retains Haas F1 development driver role

Haas F1 says that American teenager Santino Ferrucci remains on the team’s roster this year as a development driver.

The DAMS GP3 racer ran at the Silverstone F1 test last July, and while it has not been confirmed by the team, there’s a good chance that he will drive again in Hungary this summer. Haas is obliged to use both days of the second in-season test for rookies, having run its race drivers at the first test in Bahrain last month.

“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,” said team principal Guenther Steiner. “Santino is a young, American driver with plenty of potential who is learning a lot with DAMS and us.”

“I said it last year when I became a part of Haas F1 Team – my goal since I first started racing is to become a Formula One driver,” said Ferrucci. “And 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 F1 Team. 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.”