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Deletraz and Piquet sign for Charouz in F2, Deletraz linked to Le Mans

Louis Deletraz and Pedro Piquet will drive for Charouz Racing in Formula 2 for 2020, while Deletraz has also been linked to a World Endurance Championship Le Mans LMP1 seat

Deletraz finished eighth with Carlin and took three podiums in his third year of F2, having spent a year with Charouz in 2018.

Charouz became the Sauber Junior Team for 2019 but will return to its former name for next season.

Deletraz, the 2016 Formula V8 3.5 runner-up and '15 Formula Renault Northern European Cup winner, told Autosport: "I think this year Charouz showed a lot because in the last five races they were in the top three in qualifying, with one pole and always a fast car.

"I'm confident going back there because I know them, I've seen the progress in testing and there was big, big progress between '18 and '19."

Deletraz - who has a superlicence - added that he still believes F1 outings are possible in the future, having spent 2019 assisting Haas in its simulator, although he did not get any on-track time in an F1 car.

"I always said I would not come back to F2 if there was not a chance to go to F1 after," he added.

"I have no point staying in F2 just to do F2. I have a superlicence, I want to be in F1, so next year has to be good and we will work for it, that's for sure."

Deletraz tested the Rebellion LMP1 car in the WEC test at Bahrain last weekend, and told Autosport a tie-up with Rebellion and Charouz would be the "perfect programme".

The test was his first prototype experience, although he raced in ADAC GT Masters in 2016 when he was part of the BMW junior programme.

"If I can do the Spa WEC round and Le Mans together with F2, that would be the perfect programme for me," Deletraz told Autosport.

"With the new LM Hypercar class coming, it is a good time to get involved in the WEC.

"We are talking to Rebellion and that's why I was testing here at Bahrain."

Rebellion team manager Bart Hayden said Deletraz is under consideration for a seat in the second car that will be fielded at Spa and Le Mans, but stressed that no decisions had been taken.

Piquet steps up to FIA F3

Pedro Piquet will join Deletraz, stepping up from a Trident FIA Formula 3 seat, where he was sixth in the championship last year as the second non-Prema Racing driver in the standings.

The son of three-time Formula 1 champion, Nelson, tested with Charouz in Abu Dhabi earlier this month.

"After two years in GP3 and F3, the time is right to take the next step in my career and I think I'm ready for the challenge that F2 will bring," said Piquet.

"I think I had some good training in the last series and that will definitely help me.

"I'm happy to join Charouz because they had two strong years in F2 and they have a fast car.

"One of the other reasons I decided to go there is because I know the engineering part of the team very well and I knew I would work with good people."

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