BAR test-driver Anthony Davidson will replace Alex Yoong in the Minardi at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Yoong has failed to reach a qualifying time within 107% of the pole time three times so far this year.
It will be Davidson’s first Formula 1 start although he has completed thousands of test miles in the Honda powered BAR F1 car.
Davidson (23) was last year’s FIA European Formula 3 champion and was a runner up to his (then) teammate Takuma Sato in the British F3 series. Sato has since gone on to drive for the Jordan Honda F1 team.
Whether Davidson will keep the seat or Yoong will return at some point has not yet been announced.
Former CART driver Bryan Herta tested last year’s Minardi in England during the week and there is a possibility that he might be joining the team in the future as F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has long maintained that he would like an American driver in the series to raise the level of interest in the US but it is doubtful if Herta could get enough seat time to be considered for this year’s USGP next month.