Former Mercedes protégé Pascal Wehrlein has joined Ferrari in his capacity as a development driver for the 2019 season.
The Scuderia was in need of a simulator and development driver after the departures of Daniil Kvyat and Antonio Giovinazzi who handled those duties last season.
A former Manor and Sauber driver, Wehrlein was released from Mercedes at the end of last year. The 24-year-old was subsequently recruited by Mahindra to race in Formula E, but Wehrlein will split his time between the electric series and his commitments at Maranello.
Ferrari has yet to confirm Werlein's hiring or offer any details regarding employing a second sim driver for its 2019 development programme.
Sebastian Vettel, the 2018 world championship runner-up, recently underscored the importance of the young drivers working behind the scenes, or back at Maranello on race weekends, and contributing to Ferrari's development.
"We’re extremely thankful for the guys, taking in the time because it’s not the nicest job on Friday night, especially when you’re young, but it’s important, it all adds up," said Vettel.
"Everybody plays his part and in the end we have the honour to have the steering wheel in our hands and drive the machine that we all try to create and reach out with performance."
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