Toro Rosso refugee Jean-Eric Vergne has joined Ferrari as a test driver for next season.
The Frenchman, who was dumped by the Red Bull sister team at the end of the year after three seasons, has been picked up by the Maranello squad to help assist in developing next year’s car.
Vergne’s duties at Ferrari will be centered around simulator work.
This is the latest in a raft of changes at Ferrari which has seen former Sauber driver Esteban Gutierrez secure a test and reserve driver role, while experienced engineer Pat Fry and chief designer Nikolas Tombazis have been let go.
Test driver Pedro De La Rosa has also left the team.
Despite losing a place on the F1 grid, Vergne says he is looking forward to helping Ferrari return to the front next season.
“I feel very honored to be joining the Ferrari family and becoming a part of the most prestigious team in the history of Formula One,” said Vergne.
“The objective is a unanimous one and that is to help the Scuderia get back to the top step of the podium.
“Having had two years working in the simulator for a top F1 team and three years racing with Toro Rosso, my experience will add to the great efforts that are currently being made in order to get the team back to its winning ways.
“I look forward to fulfilling my dream in becoming a member of the Ferrari Formula One team and having the Tifosi behind me every step of the way.”
While Gutierrez and Vergne will carry out the bulk of the development work, Ferrari can still call upon Marc Gene and Davide Rigon to assist in a test driver capacity.