Force India has extended its Mexican connections by confirming ART GP3 man Alfonso Celis as its new development driver.
The 19-year-old will have his first taste of Formula One in the Pirelli test in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 1, and will also be given seven FP1 sessions in 2016.
"As our development driver we will work hard to prepare him for the demands of driving in F1 and provide a good grounding in all aspects of the job," said Force India boss Vijay Mallya. "It's a fantastic opportunity for Alfonso to learn from Sergio (Perez) and Nico (Hulkenberg), and to get valuable mileage in the car."
Celis currently lies 13th in the GP3 championship, and he also finished 16th in Renault 3.5 this year.
"Ever since I started racing, I've been dreaming of F1, so it's a huge honor to begin working with Sahara Force India," Celis said. "It's an amazing opportunity for me to learn about Formula One and to work closely with the engineers and race drivers. Being on the track in Abu Dhabi will be an incredible feeling. It's going to be the biggest moment in my career and I am fully focused on doing a good job for the team."
