Alexander Rossi to make F1 debut at Singapore

“I wasn’t expecting 2015 to be a year I was racing in F1”, said Rossi, who has previously driven in practice sessions on race weekends for Manor and former team Caterham. “At least I did 12 races, that is really good, I think, for a driver in Formula One that is quite hard .” .

Rossi has held talks about the prospect of a race drive with the Haas team when it enters F1 in 2016, but despite the natural fit of an American driver with an American team, the signals are that those seats have already been assigned.

Alexander Rossi says he is keen to take full advantage his unexpected F1 opportunity as he prepares to make his debut in the Singapore Grand Prix with Manor, but insists there is not particular aim to prove himself to Haas F1.

The 23-year-old replaces Spaniard Roberto Merhi, who stays with the team as reserve driver and will take part in the races in Russian Federation and Abu Dhabi.

With the combination of an American driver, race and team from next year, Rossi said the sport should flourish in the critical USA market. “The collective support of both Manor and Racing Engineering was instrumental in making this opportunity possible”. Many will know from 2014 that the team and I already have a strong relationship and there’s a bit of unfinished business for me here.

“This is a small F1 team that has been through so much. I’m honored to be part of this legacy and their continued growth and success”.

Rossi will balance his commitments in GP2, where there are three events remaining, with his time at Marussia.

The American, now second in that series behind runaway leader Stoffel Vandoorne of Belgium, will be the first US driver on the Formula One grid since Scott Speed competed for Toro Rosso.

“I flew in on Monday and when I arrived the team gave me the news that Rossi would be in my place for five of the seven races remaining”, Merhi said. He is widely-regarded as a driver who is on the cusp of an exciting F1 career and his current form in the GP2 Series has done much to reinforce his clear potential. We believe he will do a great job and look forward to seeing him race for the first time this weekend in Singapore.

The Singapore Grand Prix starts this weekend at Marina Bay.