Alfonso Celis Jr will take part in his third free practice session of the 2016 Formula 1 season at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend.
Sahara Force India announced on their official Twitter page last week that their development driver Celis Jr will replace Sergio Perez for the morning session on Friday at the Red Bull Ring.
The Silverstone factory is buzzing as we prepare for Austria where our development driver @FonsoCelisJr will be driving opening practice.
— Sahara Force India (@ForceIndiaF1) June 23, 2016
Currently Celis Jr has had two free practice appearances and four testing appearances in this season, including at the beginning of the season, the nineteen-year-old becoming the first to drive the VJM09. As well as pre-season testing at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, he has also participated in in-season testing for the Silverstone-based at the same track.
At the Bahrain Grand Prix, Celis Jr replaced Perez for the opening session and finished in twenty-first, while for the Russian Grand Prix, the Mexican replaced Nico Hulkenberg, and finished the session at the Sochi Autodrom in twenty-second.
Celis Jr is doubling up his duties with the Sahara Force India with a campaign in the Formula V8 3.5 Series in 2016 with the Spanish-based Adrian Valles-led AVF team, and is currently sitting tenth in the championship with a best finish of third coming in race two at the Belgian Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
Heading into the ninth round of the 2016 season, Force India are looking strong. Currently they are sitting fifth in the Constructor’s Championship with 59 points, with Perez having taken two podium finishes in Monaco and Baku.
