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F2 racer Malja gets Sauber Formula 1 team test call-up

Sauber has called up Formula 2 racer Gustav Malja for the in-season Formula 1 test at the Hungaroring on August 1-2.

The 21-year-old will be making his debut behind the wheel of an F1 car on one of the two days of the post-Hungarian Grand Prix test.

"It will be a great opportunity for Gustav to make another step in his racing career and to fulfil his childhood dream," said Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn.

"We have followed him in previous years, especially last year in the GP2 Series, where he consistently made progress."

A race winner in ADAC Formel Masters and Formula Renault 2.0 NEC, Malja entered GP2 full-time in 2016 with Rapax, finishing 13th.

The Swede switched to Racing Engineering for 2017, when the series was rebranded as F2, and sits ninth in the standings after taking his first podium of the campaign in Monaco.

"The prospect of driving a Formula 1 car is exceptionally thrilling, and a childhood dream come true," he said.

"I can't wait to experience that sensation; I'm sure it will be a very surreal moment."

Sauber fielded race drivers Pascal Wehrlein and Marcus Ericsson during the first in-season test in Bahrain, meaning that it will have to find another rookie to run on the other day of the Hungary test as per regulations.

Zdroj: autosport.com