Robert Shwartzman is embarking on a new phase of his career in 2023
The Scuderia Ferrari reserve driver will be racing in the GT World Challenge Endurance Cup for the 2023 season. This commitment to a new discipline is the first step in his career outside of Formula 1, as the Russian driver could be racing in Indycar next season.
The 2019 Formula 3 champion and 2021 Formula 2 runner-up had a very low-key year in 2022 as a reserve driver for the Scuderia Ferrari. Robert Schwartzman did not race competitively last season, but he is now returning to compete in 2023. However, he is no longer part of the Ferrari Driver Academy and has joined the Ferrari Competizione GT team. He will be making his debut season in GT racing with AF Corse, driving the brand new 296 GT3. This highly competitive championship will give him the opportunity to participate in the most prestigious GT race in the world, the 24 Hours of Spa.
The young Russian driver conducted a test at the end of last year behind the wheel of an Indycar single-seater with the Chip Ganassi team. Satisfied with the experience, he sees the premier discipline of American motorsport as an interesting option for his future career. Many former F2 drivers (Santino Ferrucci, Calum Ilott, etc.) have turned to the American discipline for their careers, and the results they have achieved are far from disappointing.
« The IndyCar is one of the options and I think it is always a very good option. But at this stage, I have nothing specific to say,” he said to The Race. « It’s a bit of a different world compared to the European series on my side, how they handle everything. But nevertheless, I think it’s very cool. It’s different and that’s what I like. I don’t want to say it’s bad or good, for me it’s just different, but I really enjoyed it,” he added.
In 2023, therefore, Robert Shwartzman will continue to be affiliated with Ferrari, but it is indeed Antonio Giovinazzi who remains the reserve driver in F1 if any issues were to occur with Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz.
