F1 | Sirotkin returns to Renault as third driver

After being dropped by Williams at the end of 2018, Sergey Sirotkin returns to his roots. The young Russian driver, in fact, joins Renault again as third driver, alongside the two starters Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo. For Sirotkin this is a return, as he had already been part of the French team in 2017 as a development driver, before jumping at the chance to go to Williams and make his debut in the top automotive category.

“I am very happy to join my friends at Renault again and return to Formula 1” – commented Sirotkin following the official announcement -. “We are all well aware of the time I have already spent with the team, I spent all of 2017 in their factory and in their garage. It will be interesting to see how far Renault has progressed in terms of development in recent years. Last year we were rivals on the track and I didn't have the opportunity to see the work from within the team. I am happy to join the team as third driver and reserve driver, as well as working with Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo,” added the Russian.

The Renault team has also confirmed the roles that the drivers within its academy will cover in 2019: Jack Aitken will be the Test Driver, while Guanyu Zhou, who recently arrived in the French team, will be the Development Driver.