Honda youngster Matsushita gets Sauber test

Honda young driver Nobuharu Matsushita will test for Sauber after the Hungarian Grand Prix despite doubts over next year's power unit supply deal.

Since the departure of Monisha Kaltenborn as team principal last month, Sauber's deal to use Honda power units in 2018 has been uncertain and was described as 50/50 during the British Grand Prix weekend. With new team principal Frederic Vasseur working on next year's plans, Matsushita's test is a further demonstration that the deal is currently still in place.

Matsushita is currently seventh in the FIA Formula 2 championship with one win to his name this season and will be making his F1 debut in Hungary.

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"When I was four years old, I was fascinated by Michael Schumacher, watching him racing in Formula 1," Matsushita said. "Since then my dream was to become a Formula 1 driver. I am very excited about my first Formula 1 test and I am really looking forward to driving the Sauber C36-Ferrari at the Hungaroring – it is a great opportunity for me.

"I hope it will be a productive day for the team as well as for myself, so that I can learn as much as possible. I would like to thank the Sauber F1 Team for making this happen."

Matsushita drives for ART Grand Prix in F2 – the team founded by Vasseur – and Sauber's team principal is excited to see how the Japanese driver has developed.

"I am pleased that Nobuharu has this great opportunity," Vasseur said. "He deserves the experience of his first test in a Formula 1 car. Ever since his debut in Formula 2 with ART Grand Prix, I have been following his progress closely, and have watched him advance his performance from year to year. With this Formula 1 test, he comes one step closer to his dream of becoming an F1 driver one day."

Matsushita will drive on day two of the test at the Hungaroring, taking over from fellow F2 racer Gustav Malja.