Giovinazzi returns to F1 car: Haas gives Italian a second chance

Antonio Giovinazzi will drive two free practice sessions for Haas in 2022. The team made this known in a statement. It will only increase the rumours surrounding a possible departure of Mick Schumacher.

Giovinazzi back in F1

As a junior at Ferrari and an official reserve driver for Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Haas, Giovinazzi has no complaints this year. Yet he has yet to make any headway in an F1 car in 2022, but that is about to change. The Italian, who spent two seasons in F1 with Alfa Romeo, will be given the chance to test at the Italian and American Grand Prixs. He will be in action during the first free practice session of both race weekends.

Because of Giovinazzi's experience in F1, he does not count as a rookie that Haas is obliged to deploy during this season. Haas made it clear in the statement that Ferrari wanted its pupil to make metres in the new 2022 F1 car, but in view of the rumours surrounding Schumacher this test is also interesting.

Schumacher's replacement

''I’m so glad to have the chance to drive again in official F1 sessions. Besides simulator driving it is important to test a true car and I can’t wait to put my suit and helmet back on. It’ll be an opportunity to get confident with the new generation cars – it’s the best way to be ready if I were called as reserve driver'', Giovinazzi said in the press release.

Schumacher's contract with Haas expires at the end of this season and the German has been linked with the vacant Alpine seat. Should the German indeed leave, Giovinazzi is a possible successor at Haas, as he is part of the Ferrari training staff just like Schumacher.