Red Bull junior Daruvala handed McLaren F1 test

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Red Bull junior Jehan Daruvala will enjoy at Silverstone this week his first outing in an F1 car, courtesy of the McLaren team.

The 23-year-old Indian racer, who currently sits third in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Prema, is a three-time winner in the feeder series where he's been racing since 2020.

A product of Force India's 'one in a billion hunt' for an Indian F1 driver, Daruvala joined Red Bull's young driver programme in 2019.

Daruvala's two-day test with McLaren will take place as part of the FIA's Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) provision that allows teams to test young drivers onboard 2021 equipment, an opportunity made possible by this year's regulation overhaul in F1.

Read also: IndyCar's Herta confirms 'serious ambition' for F1

“I’m incredibly grateful to be getting this opportunity,” said Daruvala.

“Testing in Formula 1 is extremely limited and opportunities like these are not easy to come by.

“It will be my first experience in a Formula 1 car, which I’m sure will be special.

“The support that I have received from the Red Bull Junior Team, my family and sponsors, coupled with this opportunity that McLaren have given me will enable me to prepare myself better to achieve my childhood dream of competing in Formula 1.”

McLaren will also roll out its MCL35M later this year for IndyCar stars Pato O'Ward and Colton Herta as part of its TPC programme.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.