Official: Bianchi will be the 3rd Force India driver in 2012

Jules Bianchi has been confirmed as test and reserve driver for the Sahara Force India team. The Frenchman, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, will be the one to replace either of the two main drivers – Di Resta and Hülkenberg – if one of them is unable to race in a Grand Prix.

Bianchi will also be given the opportunity to drive the 2012 team’s car during several Friday free practice sessions. He is thrilled to have this chance as it will allow him to learn quickly behind the wheel of a recent car.

I am obviously very excited about joining Sahara Force India and having the chance to have track time during race weekends is an important step for me. Being able to regularly be in a current single-seater is the best way to learn quickly, and I hope it will put me in a good position to one day be a main driver, Bianchi stated in the press release published by Force India.

Until his major debut with Force India, Jules Bianchi will spend time with the team to get to know them and see how they operate daily and during race weekends.

The next few months are going to be really exciting because I will get to know the team, see how they operate, and prepare to drive the car. I would like to thank everyone who believes in me, especially Sahara Force India for offering me this opportunity, the Frenchman added.

Bianchi will have the opportunity to drive the 2012 single-seater for the first time during the pre-season tests, which will take place in February, as announced by the Force India team in the statement published on their website.