With former Ferrari junior and Sauber reserve driver Raffaele Marciello officially giving up on making it to Formula One, Italy’s best hopes to see one of its representatives on the grid in the near future rest on the shoulders of Antonio Giovinazzi, who turns 23 on this day.

The Italian ace impressed for his maiden GP2 Series campaign this year, racking up five wins, including a very rare double in a wild weekend at Baku, to fall eight points shy of Prema team-mate and Red Bull junior Pierre Gasly in the title hunt.

Italy has not had a driver in F1 since 2011 and the likes of Jarno Trulli and Vitantonio Liuzzi last competed in the top flight.

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

Ben Sulayem eyes another controversial FIA rule change

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is reportedly seeking to dismantle another longstanding safeguard governing the…

12 minutes ago

Cadillac explains why Perez deserved new long-term deal

Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss has made clear that Sergio Perez’s value to the American…

16 hours ago

A champion's welcome: Antonelli honoured by Italian president

Formula 1 world champion Kimi Antonelli received a particularly special welcome home this week, with…

18 hours ago

Norris admits Hamilton has changed his outlook on F1 success

Lando Norris has revealed that Lewis Hamilton’s longevity and continued ability to compete at the…

19 hours ago

An F1 journeyman made of the right stuff

Former F1 driver Brett Lunger, born on this day in 1945, is pictured here hitching…

21 hours ago

Schumacher: Hamilton ‘not fast enough’ to have Ferrari n°1 status

Ralf Schumacher has once again questioned Lewis Hamilton's credentials at Ferrari, arguing that the seven-time…

22 hours ago