Ferrari protégé Jules Bianchi is on his way to Force India, having signed on as their 2012 reserve driver.
Bianchi, who is a member of the Ferrari young drivers' accademy, is set to test his wits against F1's best as he takes part in a minimum of nine Friday practice sessions.
Added to that, the 22-year-old Frenchman will also be the behind the wheel of the VJM05 during pre-season testing.
"I'm obviously excited to join Sahara Force India and the chance to get track time during race weekends is an important step for me," said Bianchi.
"Being regularly in a current car is the best way to learn quickly and I hope it will put me in a strong position to one day move into a race seat.
"The next few months will be really exciting as I get to know the team, see how they work, and prepare for my time in the car.
"I would like to thank everyone for believing in me and especially Sahara Force India for giving me this great opportunity."
Team owner Vijay Mallya has welcomed Bianchi on board.
"I am delighted to welcome Jules into the Sahara Force India family. We always keep an eye on young, talented drivers and his performance in GP2 certainly impressed us all.
"By giving Jules the opportunity to be part of our 2012 campaign, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to young drivers.
"We are proud of our track record in this regard and I have no doubt that Jules will quickly settle into the team and make a valuable contribution to our efforts on track this season."
