Jordan's Track Talk

Tag: Robert Shwartzman

  • Shwartzman in for FP1 at the Dutch GP

    Kick Sauber have confirmed that Robert Shwartzman will get behind the wheel of Valtteri Bottas’ car to participate in Free Practice 1 at the Dutch Grand Prix.

    Shwartzman – who acts as a reserve driver for Ferrari – is set to jump in the C44 when the second half of the 2024 season kicks off at Zandvoort on August 23rd.

    This isn’t Shwartzman’s first FP1 appearance, with the 24 year old previously taking part in sessions for Ferrari during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

    After winning the Formula 3 championship with PREMA Racing in 2019, Shwartzman went on to drive for the squad in Formula 2 from 2020 to 2021, finishing in fourth and second place of the drivers’ standings respectively.

    Since then the Russo-Israeli driver has competed in sports cars as well as racing in the World Endurance Championship with Ferrari.

    Under Formula 1’s current regulations, each team must run a rookie in two FP1 sessions each campaign, and Shwartzman’s appearance will mark Kick Sauber’s first young driver outing of 2024.

    After announcing the news, Kick Sauber stated: “As in previous occasions, we work in partnership with Scuderia Ferrari to give young talent an opportunity in practice sessions. Good Luck, Robert!”

  • DS PENSKE confirm Edgar & Shwartzman for Rookie Test

    DS PENSKE have announced Jonny Edgar will drive for the team alongside Robert Shwartzman at the Berlin Rookie Test.

    Jonny Edgar is a British racing driver who is set to compete in the European Le Mans Series with AO by TF.
    Edgar has been busy since he went into single seaters back in 2019, in 2020 competing in ADAC Formula 4 Championship where he won the championship, he also competed in Italian F4 Championship in the same year where he came fourth.

    He has been racing in FIA Formula 3 since 2021 until 2023, where he only managed one win and one podium. But in 2022 he pulled out of a couple rounds due to being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.

    Robert Shwartzman, reserve driver for the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team, will continue his work alongside the DS PENSKE squad at the Berlin Rookie test after appearing in Misano earlier this season.

    I am thrilled to get the chance to drive a Formula E car, and I thank Jay Penske and the team for giving me this amazing opportunity. As a driver I am always keen to be able to gain experience with different cars and this test offers me the chance to try a new kind of single-seater! This championship is like no other, very exciting and I cannot wait to be behind the wheels of this stunning car.
    Edgar on the news.

  • Shwartzman to take on FP1 outings

    Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal has revealed that reserve driver Robert Shwartzman will get behind the wheel of the SF23 in both the team’s allocated rookie FP1 sessions this year – starting with the Dutch GP this weekend.

    Shwartzman has been a part of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2017, and since leaving Formula 2 at the end of 2021 – where he finished runner-up to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri – he has been serving as Scuderia’s reserve driver.

    Ferrari’s decision comes of the back of the rule that was introduced at the start of 2022 that requires all 10 teams to give a minimum of two FP1 sessions to a young driver throughout the season.

    Shwartzman has plenty of experience in F1 machinery, having taken part in both FP1 sessions for Ferrari last year, as well as having driven in the post-season young test for the team in 2022 and 2021 – where he also drove for Haas.

    And with Ferrari having two academy drivers in Formula 2 – Oliver Bearman and Arthur Leclerc – Vasseur explained why the decision was made not to give either a run out in F1 machinery this year instead of Shwartzman, due to wanting the drivers to focus on the championship.

    Robert will do Zandvoort in Carlos’ car, and he will do another one – probably Abu Dhabi in Charles’ car. Because (Zandvoort) was the choice of the driver. I gave them the choice to do it, where they want to do it. I know that it is not an easy situation but Carlos… it’s not so easy to decide. Because for sure you can’t do it in Singapore, in Japan, in Las Vegas. Also, you have some Sprint events in Austin, Qatar, also that you can’t do it. Then you have the races with tyre allocation, a bit different, so it is also tricky to do it, meaning at the end of the day you don’t have so many options.

    Vasseur on Shwartzman FP1 outings.

  • DS Penske confirm Shwartzman & Stevens

    DS Penske has confirmed Will Stevens and Robert Shwartzman for the Rookie Test on the 24th April.

    Stevens started his career as a European and Asia Pacific Karting champion, through the top junior single seater categories before impressing enough to make it to Formula 1.

    He them moved into sportscars and endurance racing in 2016 – joining the FIA World Endurance Championship’s LMP2 category, where he’s sealed multiple wins and podiums as well as the 2023 title as well as a win at Le Mans.

    I am really happy to be taking in a new challenge in Formula E with DS PENSKE. This is completely different from any other race series I’ve been in, but I am hoping my experience in many other categories will give me a head start as a rookie. I have a sense of what the car is like from the work I have done in the simulator so far and look forward to the challenge ahead. I am curious to try it first hand, especially around such a unique track that is Berlin. Together with some of the best drivers and manufacturers in the world makes it an exciting place to be.

    The 31 year old on the experience.

    Shwartzman is currently a reserve driver for the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team. He started early, at the age of five in karting and up the ladder to Formula E.

    Three wins and 10 podiums saw him take the FIA Formula 3 crown in 2019, and a move to Formula 2 followed, where he finished runner-up in 2021.

    I am thrilled to get the chance to drive a Formula E car, and I thank Jay Penske for giving me this opportunity. This championship is a very interesting, growing platform, it has quite a different approach compared to other racing series but that’s why it’s fascinating. As a driver I’m always keen to be able to gain experience with different cars and this test offers me the chance to try a new kind of single-seater in a year that sees me involved in Formula 1 as third driver and in GT racing as an official driver of Ferrari. To get to do my Formula E debut with the most awarded manufacturer on the grid makes this particularly special. I am also very excited to work alongside this team, who have been very welcoming, and shares with me the will to succeed in every aspect of the sport!

    Shwartzman on the opportunity.

    It is always a special moment for the team to host talented drivers and give them their first taste of Formula E. This event is an amazing opportunity to see how they perform in a Formula E car. I am very excited to have Robert and Will behind the wheel of our GEN3 car, they have both demonstrated their raw speed and racecraft throughout the single-seater categories. Robert is a fierce competitor and Will has impressive technical skills, their mindsets fit perfectly with DS PENSKE and I am glad to have them in the team for this test!

    Jay Penske, Owner and Team Principal of DS PENSKE.

  • Shwartzman FP1 run

    Robert Shwartzman, Ferrari test driver will be taking part in FP1 for the Scuderia at the 2022 United States Grand Prix.

    Shwartzman will be getting his first stint at the wheel of the 2022 Ferrari F1-75, having drive the 2021 car this season at Mugello in July and at Fiorano in September alongside reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi.

    The 22 year old, finished runner-up in the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship and will be taking part in two FP1 sessions for Ferrari, the first one being at the Circuit of the Americas on October 21st.

    In 2022, teams must run a driver who has taken part in two Grands Prix or fewer in at least two FP1 sessions.

    For us, it’s Robert Shwartzman that will do our two FP1s. You are right in saying that you would not pick races like Singapore or races where the race drivers need more running. I don’t think we have an issue in doing it during one of the weekends where we have Pirelli testing.

    Laurent Mekies, Racing Director.