• Second Barcelona Test, Day Three

Valsecchi to test Lotus after Raikkonen calls in sick

ESPN Staff
March 2, 2013 « Live F1 testing from Barcelona | Razia shocked after losing Marussia drive »
Kimi Raikkonen called in sick on Saturday morning © Sutton Images
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Davide Valsecchi will get an unexpected debut in the Lotus E21 on Saturday morning after Kimi Raikkonen called in sick on the penultimate day of testing.

Raikkonen was supposed to be in the car on Saturday but suffered suspected food poisoning and called the team in the morning to say he would not be able to take part.

However, 2012 GP2 champion Valsecchi, who was named as the team's third driver at the end of January, was on hand to jump in the car and take Raikkonen's place. Valsecchi comes with some recent F1 experience after testing last year's Lotus at the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi.

The team's other race driver Romain Grosjean finished his two days of testing on Friday and left the circuit for home, but is now heading back. The team is not yet sure whether Raikkonen will be well enough to take part in the final day of testing on Sunday.

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