Ferrari junior Raffaele Marciello joins Sauber as test and reserve driver

Sauber have announced that they have signed Ferrari academy driver Raffaele Marciello as test and reserve driver for 2015.

“[Raffaele] proved his great talent in junior formulas, and his season in the [2013] European Formula 3 Championship with 13 wins and the title victory was particularly impressive,” said Sauber Team Principal Monisha Kaltenborn of the signing of the Swiss-born Italian. “We will give Raffaele the opportunity to become familiar with Formula One, which also includes him taking part in some free practice sessions on Friday. It’s great for our team to be part of his way to Formula One.”

The signing of the 20-year-old, who spent 2014 racing in the GP2 series, where he won the main race in Spa-Francorchamps and clinched another two podiums to finish eighth overall, dovetails neatly with Sauber’s use of Ferrari power and continues a long tradition of the Swiss team giving Ferrari protégés an F1 opportunity. Marciello most recently drove for the Hinwil outfit at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi. He will combine his test duties with Sauber with another GP2 campaign.

“I am really pleased to become a member of the Sauber F1 Team, which has a long tradition of building up excellent drivers,” said the driver nicknamed ‘Lello’. “I really think that this is the best choice for my future career. I am also happy to compete for one more season in the GP2 Series, which, together with my new F1 role, will give me a very busy 2015 season. I want to thank the Ferrari Driver Academy for giving me this important opportunity, and now I really can’t wait to start delivering my best.”

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