Shwartzman to use Israeli licence

Ferrari has said that its Russian tester Robert Shwartzman will drive under an Israeli licence during any outings with its Formula 1 team this year.

Shwartzman, the 2019 FIA Formula 3 champion, serves as Ferrari’s official test driver after spending the past two seasons in F2 under the continued patronage of the Ferrari Driver Academy.

Drivers are not permitted to be fielded under a Russian licence following the country’s invasion of Ukraine, but Ferrari revealed that Shwartzman is eligible for an Israeli one by virtue of his place of birth.

“First, Robert is born in Israel,” said Ferrari F1 boss Mattia Binotto. “He’s got an Israeli passport and, in terms of licence, he has not a Russian one. He was in agreement as well with Russian companies to interrupt any agreement he had with those countries.

“So, at the moment, he is still our test driver and he will remain that. And if we have in the future any opportunity to let him drive, we will probably let him drive.”

Ferrari has not yet made a decision about when during the season it will run its rookie sessions, but Shwartzman would appear to be first in line for the opportunity. He has already tested Ferrari’s 2018 car privately, and featured in last year’s end-of-season rookie running in Abu Dhabi in its 2021 car.