DTM driver Lucas Auer will make his F1 test debut at the wheel of a Force India following next week’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
The 22-year-old, who is the nephew of grand prix winner Gerhard Berger, will drive for the team in the post-race test at the Hungaroring.
Auer said the news was “the most beautiful moment of my life.”
“For me, it’s a childhood dream come true to drive an F1 car for the first time. I’m particularly proud that this will happen with Sahara Force India – a top Formula One team.”
Auer is currently second in the DTM championship having taken two wins from the first eight races for Mercedes. If he were to get a race seat he would be Austria’s first F1 driver since Christian Klien drove for HRT in 2010.
Auer will be joined at the test by Nikita Mazepin, who tested for Force India at Silverstone last year. The 18-year-old Russian lies 15th in the European Formula Three standings at the halfway point in their season.
Auer has ten FIA superlicence points out of the 40 necessary to be able to race in F1. Mazepin has three.
Uzair Syed (@ultimateuzair)
18th July 2017, 10:27
Why Mazepin? Can’t Force India choose someone better? Mazepin is not a good driver, and has a bad attitude.
Mikhail (@zukman)
18th July 2017, 11:03
Uralkali logo on the car that’s why.
Hugh (@hugh11)
18th July 2017, 12:12
I know… I don’t think Joel Eriksson or Max Gunther have tested an F1 car yet, I think Norris has, but those 3 are the main title contenders in F3, whereas Mazepin is in 15th.
They even have Daruvala who runs his F3 car with the Force India livery (well, without BWT sponsorship) as he’s a test driver for them, and he’s 5th in the championship – so if anything he should be testing for them.
Sundar Srinivas Harish
18th July 2017, 14:01
It is a bit disheartening to see that they’ve passed up Daruvala despite calling him a Force India academy graduate and pretty much footing the bill for his career so far. I mean, he’s won the NZ Grand Prix and doing pretty alright in F3, and I believe that he should take precedence over a sponsored guy.
Manox (@marussi)
18th July 2017, 19:37
i hate that Rosenqvist always gets ignored by the teams. i had high hopes of Malja this year in f2 but so far he has not impressed me, Joel is also a huge talent! Mazepins talent is to punch people
Fukobayashi (@)
18th July 2017, 11:21
Whoever that is in the title picture looks a bit like a young Niki Lauda.
sumedh
18th July 2017, 11:31
I was gonna say a mix of Niki Lauda and Jules Binachi.
hunocsi (@hunocsi)
18th July 2017, 12:51
@offdutyrockstar Actually he is the nephew of Gerhard Berger!
hunocsi (@hunocsi)
18th July 2017, 12:58
Ah, I see that was mentioned in the article.
Fukobayashi (@)
18th July 2017, 13:26
Now you mentioned it, I can see it! haha.
Neil (@neilosjames)
18th July 2017, 12:10
Mazepin… title should say ‘sold’ rather than handed. The closest he should get to an F1 car is standing next to Carmen Jorda in the garage, watching on a screen while they argue about who’s less suitable for F1.
Never actually heard of Auer, but his DTM record looks pretty good.
MattyPF1 (@mattypf1)
19th July 2017, 2:06
Auer’s F3 record isn’t too bad either. Was always up there in the top 5. Very consistent and quick too
Hakk The Rack
18th July 2017, 12:51
Waiting for Renault’s announcement…..
OmarRoncal - Go Seb!!! (@)
18th July 2017, 13:41
What, any new rumors today?
kpcart
20th July 2017, 6:23
Probably wont be anounced until the last day to submit names, so we wait till the 28th for the official announcement. Unnoficially kubica will be at the test.
Dulin
20th July 2017, 11:36
“I knew I did not have to worry and felt a sense of peace in the cockpit that had been missing for six years. The rest happened almost by magic and remains with me, no matter what happens next,” Kubica
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
18th July 2017, 18:50
I’d like Auer to get a practice session run if only because his FOM abbreviation would be all vowels: AUE.
Yes I am that sad.