Apr.1 (GMM) Lucas di Grassi will be Pirelli's new main tyre test driver.

That is the claim of italiaracing.net, amid the need for formula one's new official tyre supplier to replace the departing Pedro de la Rosa.

De la Rosa has been given permission to test Pirelli's 2009 Toyota in Istanbul this weekend, but after that he will focus exclusively on his role as third driver at McLaren.

Brazilian di Grassi, 26 and a renowned test driver, was left without a role in F1 this year after making his grand prix debut with Virgin in 2010.

Earlier this year, he dismissed initial reports about a possible Pirelli role as "speculation" but admitted being a tyre test driver "would be interesting".

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version