Fong to run for Sauber in FP1

Sauber has announced that Adderly Fong will drive for the team during FP1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Fong competed in the first four rounds of the GP3 season, while also racing in the Audi R8 LMS Cup in Asia, where he is currently sixth in the standings. Having driven a two-year-old Sauber in Valencia in October, Fong says he is expecting a big difference when he gets to test a current car but is ready for the challenge.

"I am very excited about my Formula One debut in Abu Dhabi, but also at the same time a little bit nervous," Fong said. "Last month I drove the Sauber C31 for the first time in Valencia, and it was good to get the mileage to be able to familiarise myself with the speed of a Formula One car. Obviously the C33 is a bit different, as it is a new generation car with a 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged engine. It will be interesting to see how the ERS and the brake-by-wire systems work.

"As I will have only 90 minutes in FP1, I will not have a lot of time to get used to the car. However, being able to drive during a Formula One weekend is a great privilege, and I am very happy to have the opportunity. It is good that I already know the track as at the same time here last year I did a GP3 race."