Sauber confirms Marciello to fill in for Nasr in FP1 at Malaysia - MotorSportsTalk

Sauber is in the news with another driver story leading into this week’s Malaysian Grand Prix, but at least this one was previously planned.

Two weeks ago, the Giedo van der Garde vs. Sauber legal drama overshadowed the week heading into Melbourne.

But this week will see the team’s new reserve driver – Ferrari Academy driver Raffaele Marciello – make his debut in FP1 filling in for Felipe Nasr. He’ll drive the No. 36 Sauber C34-Ferrari.

Marciello confirmed the news earlier this month, but it hadn’t been determined whether he’d fill in for Nasr or Marcus Ericsson.

“It will be exciting to drive the Sauber C34-Ferrari for the first time,” Marciello said in a team release. “That will also be the same for the Italians, as we have not had an Italian driver in Formula One for quite a few years. I will definitely enjoy the experience, and I am really looking forward to it.”

The last Italians in F1 were Jarno Trulli and Vitantonio Liuzzi, now teammates in the FIA Formula E Championship, who last raced in 2011.

Marciello will be making his track debut at the Sepang International Circuit, as well.

“I am confident I can do a good job as well as supporting the team in order to find a set-up for the car which suits the track. I have never been to Malaysia before, but I know the track quite well from the Ferrari simulator in Maranello, and I am sure I can get to learn it fast once I drive there. As the circuit has some fast corners, I think the car’s downforce will be crucial.

“Another important aspect will be the weather, as the humidity, along with the temperatures, is quite high. From a driver’s perspective it will be a challenge, but this is the same for everyone. Together with my trainer, I am getting well prepared for this weekend.”

Sauber will look to build on its surprise double-points finish at Melbourne this weekend in the heat of Kuala Lumpur. Three years ago, of course, Sergio Perez nearly stole the race win away from Fernando Alonso, but the Mexican recorded a career-best second place.

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An IndyCar executive said there is “absolutely” disappointment that its long-awaited video game recently was delayed beyond its target date, but the series remains optimistic about the new title.

“Well, I don’t know how quick it will be, but the whole situation is important to us,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said during a news conference Monday morning to announce IndyCar’s NTT title sponsorship. “Motorsport Games has spent a lot of money, a lot of effort to create an IndyCar title. What we’ve seen of that effort, which is not completely obvious, is very reassuring.

“I think it’s going to be outstanding. That’s our shared objective, that when it is released, it’s just widely accepted. A great credit both to IndyCar racing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, something that our fans love.”

In June 2021, IndyCar announced a new partnership with Motorsport Games to create and distribute an IndyCar video game for the PC and Xbox and PlayStation consoles in 2023.

But during an earnings call last week, Motorsport Games said the IndyCar game had been delayed to 2024 to ensure high quality.

Somewhat compounding the delay is that IndyCar’s license for iRacing expired after the end of the 2022 season because of its exclusive agreement with Motorsport Games.

That’s resulted in significant changes for IndyCar on iRacing, which had provided a high-profile way for the series to stay visible during its 2020 shutdown from the pandemic. (Players still can race an unbranded car but don’t race on current IndyCar tracks, nor can they stream).

That’s helped ratchet up the attention on having a video game outlet for IndyCar.

“I wish we had an IndyCar title 10 years ago,” said Miles, who has been working with the organization since 2013. “We’ve been close, but we’ve had these I think speed bumps.”

IndyCar is hopeful the Motorsports Game edition will be ready at the start of 2024. Miles hinted that beta versions could be unveiled to reporters ahead of the time “to begin to show the progress in a narrow way to make sure we’ve got it right, to test the progress so that we’re ready when they’re ready.”

It’s been nearly 18 years since the release of the most recent IndyCar video game for console or PC.

“(We) better get it right,” Miles said. “It’s something we’re very close to and continue to think about what it is to make sure we get it over the line in due course.”