Force India has announced that development driver Alfonso Celis Jr. will get another opportunity in the team's VJM09 during Friday's FP1 at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The 20-year-old will take over Renault-bound Nico Hulkenberg’s seat for the first 90-minute practice at the Yas Marina Circuit on the opening morning.
It will be Celis' sixth race weekend appearance this year, as he has previously had seat time in Bahrain, Russia, Austria, Italy, and COTA.
The Mexican also drove on both days of the post-Spanish Grand Prix test, while fellow development driver Nikita Mazepin took part in the post-British Grand Prix group session held at Silverstone.
Celis actually debuted the VJM09 in pre-season testing, as he drove on two days of the first winter session in Barcelona.
Beside his F1 commitment, the youngster competed in the rebranded Formula V8 3.5 championship where he finished 11th with one podium finish to his name. He previously spent two years in GP3 with Status Grand Prix and ART.
TECHNICAL: Under the skin of the McLaren-Honda MP4-31
INTERVIEW: Rob Smedley on Felipe Massa
FEATURE: When F1 team-mates fight for the title
SILBERMANN: A long-winded tribute to an often long-winded man
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
For much of 2025, the paddock conversation around Sergio Perez was surprisingly straightforward: a driver…
Flavio Briatore is not a man accustomed to standing on the sidelines of victory, nor…
Richie Ginther was born on this day in 1930. A glance at the American F1…
Victory at last! After enduring a frustrating season plagued by mechanical failures and unavoidable…
Mika Hakkinen has urged McLaren to resist the temptation of making a blockbuster move for…
Long-serving Aston Martin engineer Tim McCullough is reportedly set to leave the team at the…