Sergey Sirotkin, Renault, Circuit de Catalunya, 2019

Renault appoints Sirotkin as second reserve driver

2020 F1 season

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Sergey Sirotkin will return for a third season as Renault’s reserve driver, the team has announced.

The 24-year-old previously fulfilled the role in 2017 and 2019. He raced for Williams in F1 in 2018.

Sirotkin joins Guanyu Zhou as the team’s second reserve driver. However as a former F1 driver he will be able to step into the team at short notice, whereas Zhou does not yet have sufficient FIA superlicence points to race in Formula 1.

“We’re pleased to welcome Sergey back to the team for this year,” said team principal Cyril Abiteboul. “Given the current circumstances we find ourselves in, we must have plans in place for any situation which might occur.

“We know Sergey very well and he, likewise, knows the team. We’re looking forward to welcoming Sergey this weekend in Austria.”

Sirotkin will join the team at all races this year. Zhou will also be present at the opening eight rounds, as he is contesting the Formula 2 championship with Virtuosi.

“I understand the importance for a team to have a driver ready to fill in quickly should the opportunity arise, especially given the current situation the world is in,” said Sirotkin. “I’ve been keeping sharp and focused and I would be well prepared to race a Formula 1 car again.”

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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4 comments on “Renault appoints Sirotkin as second reserve driver”

  1. Is there a list of some sorts, of all drivers who have (close to) enough super license points and are eligable for a f1 seat?

  2. Sirotkin to become Ricciardo’s successor for next year confirmed (pun intended).

  3. I always felt Sirotkin was massively underrated in his year with Williams, I thought he outperformed Stroll. I’d like to see him get a chance again , not at the cost of Ocon tho

  4. It would be useful, given the threat of Covid-19, to see a full list of the official reserve drivers for each team – I predict at least one will come into play this year.

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