Ferrari protege Giuliano Alesi secures 2019 Formula 2 seat
Ferrari Driver Academy member Giuliano Alesi will step up to Formula 2 next season with Trident Racing
The 19-year-old Frenchman, who is the son of ex-Formula 1 driver Jean, has spent the last three seasons with Trident in GP3.
He won three races in 2017 on his way to fifth in the championship, but endured a tougher season this year as he managed to only take one more victory and ended up seventh overall.
Alesi spent two days with Trident's F2 team in post-season testing in Abu Dhabi and has now been named as the squad's first confirmed signing for the 2019 campaign.
"It's an amazing opportunity," said Alesi. "First of all I want to thank Trident as it's going to be a pleasure to continue racing with them in F2.
"This is a new category, a new adventure, which I'm really looking forward to.
"This year hasn't quite gone as we all hoped, but I'm really looking forward to a successful season with Trident in 2019.
"We are going to work hard this winter, and try and come back as strong as possible for the season opener."
Alesi placed 13th on his first day of running in the Abu Dhabi test, before improving to sixth the following day - just half a second off the pace.
"I'm happy with the first test, because I could manage to do a good lap time and finish P6 on the final day," added Alesi.
"It was my first experience with an F2 car, so I couldn't put the sectors perfectly together, but in general it went well. It's a good start, and I'll keep working hard."
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Yamamoto ‘never imagined’ scoring podium on injury comeback in Super Formula
Pourchaire “worried” for Super Formula prospects after nightmare debut
How Cassidy emerged triumphant from "mayhem" in Portland FE slow-burner
Alesi loses TOM'S Super Formula drive, Sasahara returns
Alesi calls early TOM'S SUPER GT promotion "surreal"
The F1 cult hero offspring making up for lost time in Japan
Pourchaire to make IndyCar debut for Arrow McLaren at Long Beach
Why F1 2026 worst case fears could be key to new rules success
Red Bull says it can't match "very lucrative" Audi F1 offer to Sainz
Mercedes F1 junior Pin joins the FRECA grid
Why Alpine’s rigorous training camp yields telling insights into its juniors
Can F2's relaxed title favourite prove a point to Alpine?
Why F1's junior logjam isn't entirely a product of current issues
Inside the racing university moulding F1 drivers and engineers alike
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments