Ferrari hand out 'multi-year contract' extension to star driver in new F1 boost

Ferrari have handed a multi-year contract extension to World Endurance Championship star Antonio Giovinazzi, who will also continue as a reserve driver for the F1 squad. The Italian, who formerly raced for Alfa Romeo, is currently Fred Vasseur's most experienced back-up driver. Giovinazzi's relationship with Ferrari dates back to his junior career. In 2016, he signed as a simulator driver for the Scuderia, and in 2017 and 2018, he worked as a reserve for the three Ferrari-powered cars on the F1 grid.

This work led to his first full-time opportunity on the grid in 2019. After replacing Pascal Wehrlein for the first two rounds of the 2017 campaign and completing 13 FP1 sessions for Haas and Sauber, he joined the latter, rebranded under Alfa Romeo, for 2019. However, after three years and just eight top-10 finishes, he was dropped to create room for Zhou Guanyu.

Now, the Italian driver and Zhou are Ferrari's F1 reserve drivers, while academy prospect Dino Beganovic has been completing the rookie FP1 allocations in 2025. No longer a young prospect at 31, Giovinazzi has carved out a successful career in WEC.

Driving for Ferrari's AF Corse No.51 entry, Giovinazzi has scored three wins and eight podiums in 21 starts, including a victory and back-to-back third-place finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

That effort has been rewarded with a multi-year extension, which will also see the Italian continue his F1 duties. "Eight years ago, I began my adventure with Ferrari, which for me is much more than a team: it's a family," the 31-year-old said.

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"Renewing today means continuing a challenge that gets me charged up every day, in an environment where people, teamwork and ambition matter. Being an official driver in the WEC and the third driver in Formula One is a commitment that I am honoured and excited to undertake.

"I want to thank Ferrari for their continued faith in me: growing in these team colours is truly special. I can't wait for the next chapters of this story, which I will embark on with the commitment, passion and hunger for results that have always been part of me."

On the F1 front, Ferrari experienced a frustrating weekend at Silverstone. The Italian constructor demonstrated their strongest pace of the season throughout practice and the early stages of qualifying, but both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc made errors on their final runs.

In the Grand Prix, it was more of the same luck. Leclerc found himself on the wrong strategy early and executed an uncharacteristically messy race, while Hamilton, despite making good headway, couldn't hunt down Nico Hulkenberg for his first Ferrari podium.