Deletraz expands role at HAAS F1 team

Louis Deletraz has levelled up for 2020, with the HAAS Formula 1 team announcing that the Swiss racer will share test and reserve duties with Pietro Fittipaldi.

The Charouz Racing System driver undertook simulator duties for the American outfit last season and impressed suitably to earn a promotion for the new season.

Deletraz will dovetail his new F1 commitments - which include supporting the team in the sim and on track – alongside the 2020 F2 campaign. It was announced back in January that he will re-join Charouz Racing System, whom he scored two podiums with in 2018.

“To be an official test and reserve driver in Formula One is another step along the way to reaching my ultimate goal of competing in Formula One,” the 22-year-old said.

“I made my debut in a Formula One car with Haas F1 Team and I’m naturally thrilled that we have developed that opportunity, as well as my simulator work last season, into an official role as a test and reserve driver.

"I would like to thank Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner for adding me to the programme in this capacity. The bonus for me is that with Formula 2 on the support bill at a variety of Grand Prix events, I know they will get to see me race and I can spend more time embedding myself with the team when the timetable allows.”

It is also expected that Deletraz will represent HAAS in the next instalment of F1’s Virtual Grand Prix Series, hosted online on Sunday, April 5. Deletraz will hope to follow in the footsteps of fellow F2 racer Guanyu Zhou, who won the inaugural event.

Deletraz is likely to be joined in the race by Fittipaldi, who is the brother of F3 rookie Enzo Fittipaldi.

"We’re excited to continue to present him with further opportunities to expand his relationship with the team in 2020 when we can return to work."

Haas F1 Team team principal Guenther Steiner added: "Louis has proven himself over the past 12 months, both in his endeavours with us as well as his F2 exploits, and we’re delighted to confirm him as an official test and reserve driver for Haas F1 Team in 2020.

"His work in the simulator was undoubtedly of value as we faced our challenges last season and we’re excited to continue to present him with further opportunities to expand his relationship with the team in 2020 when we can return to work.

"I have no doubt Louis will continue to add significant input into our own race programme supporting Romain (Grosjean) and Kevin (Magnussen) and the whole engineering team with the Haas VF-20.

"On-track I’m keen to see him build on his previous F2 successes and continue to be a front-runner in Formula One’s hotly contested feeder series.”