Gary Paffett Force India reserve driver in Melbourne
Force India confirmed that Gary Paffett will be the reserve driver for the first Grand Prix of the season in Melbourne this weekend.
The official reserve driver for the Force India team, Jules Bianchi, is unavailable for the opening weekend of the 2012 Formula 1 World Championship as he is present for the pre-season tests of the World Series By Renault championship at the Circuit du Castellet.
Therefore, the Indian team, powered by Mercedes, called upon Gary Paffett, a driver for the star-branded company, to replace the French driver in Melbourne.
The British driver, still under contract with McLaren-Mercedes as a test driver, will only replace Force India’s main drivers this weekend in case of force majeure. Paul di Resta and Nico Hülkenberg will therefore participate in all practice sessions, including those on Friday, which are commonly reserved by teams for their third driver.
Paffett states on this matter: « I am happy to be available for the Sahara Force India team this weekend. Of course, it’s unlikely that I’ll be called upon and hopefully it won’t happen, but it’s good to know that the team thought of me. I would also like to thank McLaren and Mercedes for allowing me to be free if needed. »
This is not the first time McLaren has offered an exit pass to one of its drivers. Indeed, during the last Canadian Grand Prix, the British team allowed Pedro de la Rosa to replace ailing Sergio Perez at Sauber at the last minute.
