Callum Ilott will act as Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN’s reserve driver during the 2021 Formula 1 season when Robert Kubica is unavailable, and he will also participate in several free practice sessions with the team this year.
Ilott, who is also a reserve driver for Scuderia Ferrari, will make his free practice debut this weekend at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve. He was scheduled to run with the Haas F1 Team in practice for last year’s Eifel Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, but the weather put paid to his hopes of taking to the track.
The 2020 FIA Formula 2 Championship runner-up has previously tested with Alfa Romeo across the past two seasons, so to join the team on an official capacity and get some much-needed time behind the wheel of the C41-Ferrari was exciting for the twenty-two-year-old.
“I am really happy to be joining the team for this season and I’d like to thank Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN and the Ferrari Driver Academy for the trust they have put in me,” said Ilott.
“The two sessions I had with the team in the last two years have been extremely useful in getting me accustomed to the way a Formula 1 team works and I am confident I can hit the ground running in my new role as one of the reserve drivers at Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN.
“I can’t wait to be in the car and help the team continue its progress.”
Frédéric Vasseur, the Team Principal at Alfa Romeo and the CEO of Sauber Motorsport AG, is delighted that the team have been able to sign Ilott as their second reserve driver in 2021, and he feels the young Briton will be an asset to them this year.
“I am delighted to welcome Callum to our team: his journey through the junior series has been an impressive one and he is without doubt one of the most talented young drivers coming through the ranks,” said Vasseur.
“He has worked with us before, each time leaving a lasting impression thanks to his work ethic and good feedback, and I have no doubt he will be a very positive addition to Robert Kubica, who will be unavailable on various occasions due to his other racing programmes.
“Callum will have a busy programme and we can’t wait to see him on track again this weekend.”
