Alonso to join Aston Martin’s Pirelli tyre test next month · RaceFans

In brief

Aston Martin call upon race drivers for Pirelli test

Aston Martin’s new driver Fernando Alonso and team mate Lance Stroll will drive their 2022 car in the Pirelli tyre test being conducted by the team next month.

Pirelli is testing with several teams during the off-season to aid the development of their next tyre compounds for F1, and Aston Martin’s test is taking place at Spanish track Jerez.

The team plan for Alonso to drive on the seventh and Stroll will take over the AMR22 the next day.

Chadwick to continue Williams simulator work

Williams have announced three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick’s role within their young driver development programme will not change despite the relocation of her racing career to the United States.

Chadwick, who was champion of the Formula Regional-spec-W Series in 2019, 2021 and ’22, will race for Andretti Autosport in Indy Nxt this year.

She was signed by Williams as a development driver in 2019 (with the team’s Driver Academy not created until 2020), and two years ago the team decided to increase her involvement within the team by giving her more time in their simulator in Grove, England.

Williams already announced at the end of 2022 that they would continue their support of Chadwick into 2023, and on Wednesday added that she “will continue with a personalised simulator programme to aid in her progression as a driver and provide valuable support to the team’s race preparations” through 2023.

Sato funded move to IndyCar after F1 career ended

Takuma Sato has explained on motorsport journalist Marshall Pruett’s podcast how he self-funded his move into IndyCar back in 2010 after his Formula 1 career came to an end.

The Japanese driver raced in F1 from 2002 to 2008, and was in contention to race for Toro Rosso in 2009 but ended up with a year on the sidelines before joining IndyCar with KV Racing Technology.

After 13 years of full-time competition in the series with five different teams, and six wins, he has decided to scale back to only contesting the oval races for 2023 and has moved to Chip Ganassi Racing.

“Of course, all the drivers want to be always professional, always want to be employed and admitted on your performance,” said Sato.

“But sometimes these things are not going that simple, and I thought now is the time I really need to open the…