Formula 1 Mexico City GP
Fittipaldi aiming to retain Haas F1 test role alongside IndyCar drive
Pietro Fittipaldi is aiming to continue his role as a Haas Formula 1 reserve driver in 2024 despite his Rahal Letterman Lanigan IndyCar drive reducing his availability.
Adam Cooper
Edited: Oct 30, 2023, 2:31 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Fittipaldi will prioritize his RLL program next year, but he still has the scope to retain his links with Haas, for whom he competed in the last two races of the 2020 season as a replacement for the injured Romain Grosjean.
With the IndyCar season ending on September 15, he will potentially be free for the final seven races of the F1 calendar, while also having some spare weekends earlier in the year.
With 24 events on next year's F1 schedule, many teams are splitting the reserve role, with Haas now potentially having the option to have Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman on hand as well.
"We have to figure that one out," said team boss Guenther Steiner when asked about Fittipaldi. "I was speaking with Fred [Vasseur] about what they are doing with reserve drivers for next year, but we haven't come to a conclusion.
"I don't think we'll lose him completely. As I said, we looked into it, what is possible, what is not. We know the calendars. We had a chat today about it.
"Also, how much testing, because in IndyCar they do more testing than we do here, how much is involved in that one. Pietro is part of the family and if you don't have him around you miss something."
Photo by: Michael Potts / Motorsport Images
Pietro Fittipaldi, Haas VF-22
Fittipaldi is keen to retain his F1 links despite switching his focus to the USA.
"I think it would be amazing to continue with Haas," he told Motorsport.com. "Because first, we've been together for so long. It would be going on to the sixth season.
"And we always do a really good job together in the testing duties, and trying to work on developing the car. I love doing that work for the team.
"And for me as a driver it's very useful as well. Because every year technology changes, and it's useful information that can help me in any series that I'm racing in.
"Obviously Guenther knows that the priority and the focus is 100% IndyCar. But that's what we're looking into now, to see what the possibilities are to continue as reserve and continue doing the testing duties for the team. So we'll know soon, but the intention is there."
Fittipaldi confirmed that the last part of the F1 season is his best chance to be available on a consistent basis.
"Because the IndyCar season ends early in September, from then until the end of the year, it's seven F1 races. Already there you have a third of the season. And then there's some races which probably would be easier, like the Miami GP, if I'm in the US.
"And being able to continue doing some testing duties, I think that would be important. So we're in the process of looking at that. But I think the intention is there to be able to do something.
"There's no rush to do it, and I don't see a reason why it wouldn't be possible. But I need to double check with the team, Rahal, and make sure that nothing clashes, and that they're comfortable with me doing it as well."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Overheating brakes triggered heavy Magnussen crash in F1 Mexico GP
Next article Verstappen hails Red Bull's 'sharper' F1 race starts
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Adam Cooper
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Formula 1
Formula 1
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Latest news
Dale Jr. explains why he doesn't use 'Earnhardt' in his signature
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 1 h
Dale Jr. explains why he doesn't use 'Earnhardt' in his signature
NASCAR to allow brake rotor and pad changes after Phoenix qualifying
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
1 h
NASCAR to allow brake rotor and pad changes after Phoenix qualifying
Why Christian Horner banned Mercedes' name as Red Bull built its own F1 engine
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
Why Christian Horner banned Mercedes' name as Red Bull built its own F1 engine
Laurent Mekies extends contract as Red Bull's F1 team boss
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
3 h
Laurent Mekies extends contract as Red Bull's F1 team boss
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe