Published 12:23 IST, July 31st 2020
F1 reserve drivers 2020: Full list of reserve drivers of each team amid COVID-19 crisis
The F1 2020 season has a special focus on reserve drivers, with COVID-19 threatening to affect the season. Here's the full list of F1 reserve drivers 2020.
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Formula 1 season resumed earlier in July after a three-month hiatus due to COVID-19 pandemic. Originally scheduled to kick off in March, World Championship was postponed due to coronavirus crisis, and since return, F1 has adopted strict guidelines to avoid spread of virus inside bio-secure bubble. resumption of season has brought in extra focus on F1 reserve drivers 2020, with a possibility of a driver testing positive and subsequently being ruled out of action. Here's a look at all F1 reserve drivers 2020, including Racing point reserve driver, Ferrari reserve driver and Mercedes reserve driver information.
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F1 Reserve drivers 2020: Mercedes, Ferrari reserve driver list
According to AutoSport, Italian racing giants, Scuderia Ferrari have Alfa Romeo driver Antonio Giovinazzi as ir official reserve driver if Charles Leclerc or Sebastian Vettel tested positive for COVID-19. While Giovinazzi is official Ferrari reserve driver, team also has Pascal Wehrlein on its roster of simulator drivers. German last raced in F1 with Sauber in 2017.
For Mercedes, Formula E driver Stoffel Vandoorne, who last raced in F1 with McLaren in 2018, was officially named as reserve earlier this year. y can also call upon simulation driver Esteban Gutierrez, whose last F1 season was with Haas in 2016.
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F1 reserve drivers 2020: McLaren, Racing point reserve driver list
McLaren had Sergey Sirotkin on standby last season. However following signing of an engine supply deal with Mercedes for 2021, it has had an agreement to use Brackley team's drivers, so Stoffel Vandoorne and Esteban Gutierrez are available. Like McLaren, Racing Point also has a similar deal and will call shots first if both drivers need a reserve driver at same time.
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re is official Racing point reserve driver, but team do retain friendly relations with Nico Hulkenberg and he could become a Racing point reserve driver option should team decide to have its own dedicated driver on standby. If McLaren miss out on Esteban Gutierrez, y can bring back Fernando Alonso, as he retains his McLaren links through his Indy 500 programme, and thus cant be ruled out.
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F1 reserve drivers 2020: Red Bull/Alpha Tauri, Renault reserve drivers
Sergio Sette Camera was named as reserve driver for both Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri earlier this year. However, situation is complicated by his Super Formula commitments in Japan and travel restrictions amidst COVID-19 pandemic may restrain his ability to be available for F1 race weekends. Sebastien Buemi, who last raced in F1 with Toro Rosso in 2011, has held a reserve role ever since but is unlikely to be called upon. In event of Red Bull Racing needing a driver, most likely scenario is that Pierre Gasly or Daniil Kvyat move up and ir seat is taken by a reserve, which is likely to be Buemi.
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F1 Reserve drivers 2020: Haas, Alpha Romeo, Williams reserve drivers
Robert Kubica is official reserve for Alpha Romeo team, and he would also be called upon if Giovinazzi is obliged to take over a Ferrari seat. IndyCar driver Marcus Ericsson held a reserve role last year and tested for team in Austria and he could be available on tice. For Haas, Louis Deletraz and Pietro Fittipaldi are minated F1 reserve drivers 2020.
Both drivers have tested for team in past, with Fittipaldi conducting extensive running last year. Williams in past had access to Mercedes contracted drivers, with Esteban Ocon tably filling in after George Russell felt unwell in Abu Dhabi last year, However, earlier this year team formally anunced F2 star Jack Aitken as its reserve.
(Im Courtesy: Formula1.com)
12:23 IST, July 31st 2020