The Haas F1 Team has confirmed that Santino Ferrucci will remain with the squad for another season as development driver.
The 19-year-old American has been with Haas since 2016. However, he is yet to take part in a Grand Prix race weekend. Ferrucci has been in competition with the team's simulator driver Arjun Maini to retain the role.
"We’re pleased to have Santino back with Haas F1 Team,” said team principal Guenther Steiner.
"Santino is a young, American driver with plenty of potential. We’re very supportive of his desire to make it to Formula 1."
“My goal since I began racing is to become a Formula 1 driver," confirmed Ferrucci. "To be an American who is part of an American team is something I take a tremendous amount of pride in."
Like most modern drivers, Ferrucci began his career in karting. He was touring the US by the age of 5, and was a multi-time champion by 11.
He graduated to open-wheel racing in 2013, initially competing in Formula 2000 and the Skip Barber Racing Series.
The following season he switched to British Formula 3 and won two races at Brands Hatch. He was the youngest winner in the series at the age of 16 years, two months and 30 days.
After stints in the Toyota Racing Series New Zealand and the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, he made his GP3 début in 2016.
The same year he took part in a two-day F1 test with Haas at Silverstone. He was the first American driver at the wheel of an American Formula 1 car since 1977.
Ferrucci made six further starts in GP3 in 2017 before being promoted to F1 feeder series Formula 2 for the remainder of the season. This year, he will combine his duties for Haas with a full-time F2 campaign for Trident.
“My time with Haas F1 Team has really prepared me for my first full F2 season with Trident," Ferrucci said.
"Between the two teams I feel like I’m in the best position to succeed and, ultimately, get to Formula 1."
"We look forward to his continuing development in F2,” commented Steiner.
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