Pietro Fittipaldi remains Haas' official reserve for 2023

©Haas

The Haas F1 Team has retained Pietro Fittipaldi as its official test and reserve driver for the 2023 Formula 1 season.

The 26-year-old Brazilian has enjoyed a working relationship with Haas since 2018, when he first tested an F1 at Yas Marina at the end of that year.

In 2020, Fittipaldi made his F1 race debut with Haas, substituting for an injured Romain Grosjean in the final two races of the season, at Sakhir and in Abu Dhabi.

This year, the Miami-born grandson of F1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi will play an operational role on-track throughout the season as well as support the Haas team with commercial and digital duties off-track.

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"It will be my fifth season in Formula 1 as the Official Reserve & Test Driver for Haas and I’m super excited to be going into 2023 coming off the back of a very competitive season," commented Fittipaldi.

"Last year I did two free practice sessions, tested at the beginning of the year and at the end of season test so we’ve already been able to try some stuff for the new season.

"I’m excited to see the new car and new developments, and I hope that we’re able to make an even bigger step forward with the VF-23."

Haas team boss Guenther Steiner says that retaining Fittipaldi will ensure all-important continuity at the US outfit.

"I’ve said before that continuity and consistency are key to success in Formula 1 and Pietro remaining with the team for 2023 makes me believe that we have strong foundations," stated Steiner.

"In Formula 1, you need to be able to react within the smallest of margins to any scenario, and Pietro is a proven performer and is ready to step in at any time to get behind the wheel and drive, as he did twice in 2020.

"Last season he took part in pre-season testing, two free-practice sessions and post-season testing in the VF-22 and surprisingly unlike many drivers on the grid, he’s said this car suits his aggressive style, which is music to my ears when track time is so limited.

"He’s an asset to our team so I look forward to seeing his continuation with us this season."

In addition to his commitments to Formula 1 this season, Fittipaldi will make his debut in the LMP2 class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and enjoy his first full season in the World Endurance Championship.

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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.