Vergne replaces Rosa on Ferrari F1 team

LONDON, England - Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne has replaced Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa as a Ferrari test driver.

The F1 team said at the weekend that Vergne, who raced for the Italian-based Toro Rosso team through 2014, will focus mainly on car development work in the simulator.

Mexican Esteban Gutiérrez has already been appointed as test and reserve driver and Spaniard Marc Gene and Italian Davide Rigon will also carry out some testing duties.

MAJOR OVERHAUL

Vergne in a statement: "I feel very honoured to be joining the Ferrari family and becoming a part of the most prestige team in the history of F1. The objective is... to help the Scuderia get back to the top step of the podium."

Ferrari is undergoing a major overhaul after experiencing its first season (2014) without a race win; that hadn’t happened since 1993.

Spaniard Fernando Alonso has left the team. His place has been taken by quadruple champion Sebastian Vettel.