Santino Ferrucci originally signed to race in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship for EuroInternational before the season even began. However, the American racer has had to wait for his sixteenth birthday to be able to compete in the series, due to the minimum age rule. He joins Italian Michele Beretta in the team starting from this weekend.
Ferrucci turned sixteen at the end of May, and has finally been allowed to join the European Formula 3 grid this weekend at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The American’s arrival means that Dutchman Max Verstappen is no longer the youngest driver in the field, but it does mean there will be two sixteen year olds on the grid this weekend.
“Having waited five months for it, I’m absolutely delighted with finally having the chance of racing in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship,” said Ferrucci. “I already contested two race weekends in the German ATS Formula 3 Cup and even secured a podium. But I raced an older car, there, and the level also isn’t as high as in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship.
“I haven’t got any special goals for Spa-Francorchamps as I don’t really know what I will have to cope with. I just want to do a good job, avoid getting involved in any incidents and learn as much as possible. One of my main goals is to display a proper learning curve. And I would be happy if I should make it to the top 20, every now and then.”