Sauber hands F1 test debut to F2 racer Malja

The 21-year-old Swede will be making his debut behind the wheel of an F1 car in the post-Hungarian GP test, as he will get to pilot the Sauber C36-Ferrari for one of the two scheduled test days.

"It will be a great opportunity for Gustav to make another step in his racing career and to fulfill his childhood dream," said Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn.

"We have followed him in previous years, especially last year in the GP2 Series, where he consistently made progress."

Malja, a race winner in ADAC Formel Masters and Formula Renault 2.0 NEC, joined GP2 full-time in 2016 with Italian team Rapax, finishing 13th in his rookie year.

He switched to Spanish outfit Racing Engineering for 2017, when the series was rebranded as F2, and currently sits ninth in the standings after his campaign's first podium in Monaco.

Malja said: "The prospect of driving a Formula 1 car is exceptionally thrilling, and a childhood dream come true. I can’t wait to experience that sensation; I’m sure it will be a very surreal moment."

Sauber fielded its regular drivers Pascal Wehrlein and Marcus Ericsson during the first in-season test in Bahrain, meaning that, as per regulations, it will have to find another rookie to run on the other day of the Hungary test.