Breaking news
Formula 1
Ilott confirmed as Ferrari’s 2021 F1 test driver
FIA Formula 2 star Callum Ilott has been confirmed as Ferrari’s F1 test driver next season, just weeks after falling short to Mick Schumacher in the title race.
Charles Bradley
Edited: Dec 15, 2020, 7:04 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Ilott, 22, finished second in this year’s F2 points to Schumacher, who graduates to F1 as a race driver with Haas F1 in 2021.
Ilott scored five pole positions and three wins with the UNI-Virtuosi team this season. He has been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2017, and was previously a Red Bull Junior driver, but was dropped from its programme after the 2015 season.
“I am very pleased to be joining Scuderia Ferrari as its test driver from next year,” said Illott.
“I look forward to contributing to the work the team does on and off track, and to all of the new things I can learn by taking on this exciting new challenge. I will give my all to do a good job and gain as much experience as possible to continue making progress as a driver.
“I would like to thank the Ferrari Driver Academy and Scuderia Ferrari for this great opportunity and their support. It has been an honour to be part of their programme for the past three years and I am pleased to continue our journey together.”
Read Also:
- Schumacher secures 2021 F1 graduation with Haas
- Brawn: Mick Schumacher's arrival reminder of Michael "tragedy"
He has previously tested F1 machinery for Alfa Romeo at Barcelona in 2019, where he crashed, but plans for him to drive in free practice for Haas at the Nurburgring was cancelled due to bad weather conditions.
He then drove a 2018-spec Ferrari at Fiorano in September with fellow academy members Schumacher and Robert Shwartzman, and was back in the Alfa in today's young driver test in Abu Dhabi.
Earlier this week he confirmed he would not be returning to F2 in 2021, saying “I only missed out [on the title] by 14 points.
“I could always give reasons why, but I don't want to give excuses. I feel like if you are in the top three or top two, you shouldn’t have to prove yourself again.”
A costly spin in the second of the four Silverstone races while well placed led to a non-finish, while contact in the Mugello feature and Bahrain sprint races allowed Schumacher to stretch his F2 points advantage.
An enforced pitstop for the Prema driver in the Sakhir finale presented an opportunity for Ilott to mount an attack on the top-two place he needed to overhaul his rival in the championship, but the UNI-Virtuosi driver's overworked tyres meant he was powerless to avoid slipping back to an eventual 10th as a relieved Schumacher claimed the title in 18th.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Masi explains decision to delay Sainz investigation
Next article Mazepin loses court battle over failed attempt to buy Force India
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Charles Bradley
Mika Hakkinen on his darkest day in F1
Formula 1
Formula 1 11 mo
Mika Hakkinen on his darkest day in F1
Dillon: Spotter was “wrong” to shout “wreck him!” before Hamlin clash
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Richmond II
Aug 13, 2024
Dillon: Spotter was “wrong” to shout “wreck him!” before Hamlin clash
Hamlin: NASCAR stripping Dillon of win would be “warranted”
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Richmond II
Aug 12, 2024
Hamlin: NASCAR stripping Dillon of win would be “warranted”
More from
Callum Ilott
VeeKay and Juncos Hollinger Racing claim milestone top 10 IndyCar championship finish
IndyCar
IndyCar
Laguna Seca
1 mo
VeeKay and Juncos Hollinger Racing claim milestone top 10 IndyCar championship finish
VeeKay charges from 24th to podium at Milwaukee as Juncos Hollinger eyes historic season finish
IndyCar
IndyCar
Milwaukee Race 1
1 mo
VeeKay charges from 24th to podium at Milwaukee as Juncos Hollinger eyes historic season finish
Silly season’s forgotten man, Callum Ilott pushing for “one more shot” in IndyCar for 2027
IndyCar
IndyCar 2 mo
Silly season’s forgotten man, Callum Ilott pushing for “one more shot” in IndyCar for 2027
Latest news
Christian Horner blames Dietrich Mateschitz’s death for the “painful” end of his F1 reign
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
6 min
Christian Horner blames Dietrich Mateschitz’s death for the “painful” end of his F1 reign
F1 signs historic 10-year Rwanda deal to host African Grand Prix
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 41 min
F1 signs historic 10-year Rwanda deal to host African Grand Prix
Fred Vasseur "not sure" if Red Bull is currently F1's best team
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
Fred Vasseur "not sure" if Red Bull is currently F1's best team
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.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.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe