Force India has announced that test and development driver Alfonso Celis will drive in next week’s opening practice for the Austrian Grand Prix.

The Mexican has already made two of his seven scheduled FP1 outings this year, having deputised for Sergio Perez in Bahrain and Nico Hulkenberg in Russia.

Celis was also given the opportunity to debut this year’s VJM09 in winter testing in Barcelona before returning to action on the final day of the first pre-season test. The 19-year-old also drove on both days of the post-Spanish Grand Prix test.

Beside his F1 commitment, Celis competes this year in the rebranded Formula V8 3.5 championship where he currently occupies ninth position with one podium finish to his name.

Force India has yet to confirm who will make way for the Mexican teenager at the Red Bull Ring. Celis has already said he is keen to prove the team that he can be considered for a race seat in 2017.

Technical analysis - Baku

Scene at the Grand Prix of Europe

Grand Prix of Europe - Driver ratings

Breakfast with ... Derek Daly

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

Norris celebrates hugely popular maiden win: "About time!"

If there was a poll commissioned to find the most widely liked driver on the…

46 mins ago

Verstappen praiseful of Norris: ‘It won’t be his last win’

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen suffered in the Miami Grand Prix his second defeat of the…

1 hour ago

Miami GP: Norris finally nails maiden F1 win in style

It's been a long time in coming but Lando Norris finally clinched his maiden Grand…

2 hours ago

2024 Miami Grand Prix - Race results

Full race results from the Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome, round 6 of…

2 hours ago

Sargeant feeling 'comfortable' despite rumors of potential seat loss

Williams driver Logan Sargeant is maintaining his composure amid speculation regarding a potential mid-season replacement,…

5 hours ago

Norris: Miami ‘not the track’ to judge McLaren upgrades

Lando Norris says Miami isn’t the best circuit to gauge the full impact of McLaren’s…

7 hours ago