PARIS — Ma Qing Hua will become the first Chinese driver to compete in Formula One when he lines up for the HRT team in Friday's opening practice session for the Italian Grand Prix. The 24-year-old Shanghai-born Ma got the call up from the Spanish team after completing 82 laps at Silverstone during a young drivers' session in July. Ma, last year's Chinese Touring Car champion, had previously competed in Formula Renault, A1 Grand Prix, Formula Three and Superleague. He replaces Indian Narain Karthikeyan for the session, HRT announced on their official website. “This is a very important step toward my dream of becoming a Formula 1 driver,” said Ma. “It will be my second time in the car ... and I'm very excited about driving at a circuit like Monza. “The objective of this session is to continue advancing with my program, rack up more miles and experience at the wheel of an F1 car and help the team with whatever they need.” Reflecting on the wider significance of Friday's practice he added: “It will be the first time that a Chinese driver takes part in a Grand Prix and that for Chinese motorsport is another huge stride and a fantastic opportunity.” He thanked those who had helped him to arrive at this point, including his parents and the Chinese Motorsport Federation. HRT team boss Luis Perez-Sala commented: “Since we started working with him in March everything has been very quick but he's responded and overcome every phase accordingly. “He's fulfilled our expectations without making any mistakes and has proven himself as a quick and safe driver with a great capability to adapt...” D'Ambrosio replaces Grosjean Jerome d'Ambrosio can become the first Belgian driver to score a point in Formula One in 20 years when he replaces the suspended Romain Grosjean at Lotus in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix. Frenchman Grosjean was banned for one race after causing a pile-up and smashing into championship leader Fernando Alonso's Ferrari at the first corner of last Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. D'Ambrosio, who is of Italian extraction and raced for Virgin (now Marussia) last season without scoring a point, is the team's official reserve and will partner 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen at Monza, Lotus said in a statement Tuesday. “My desire for 2012 has always been to get back into the seat of a Formula One car, so I am grabbing this opportunity with both hands,” said D'Ambrosio. “I want to reward the faith that the team has in me with a good haul of points from the race.” The last Belgian to finish in the points was Thierry Boutsen, who came fifth for Ligier at the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide in November 1992. There are no Belgian or Italian drivers in the championship this season. Lotus has a quick and reliable car and is ahead of Ferrari, which can count on most of the support at Monza, in third place in the constructors' standings. Raikkonen is a title contender, despite not yet having won a race in his comeback season, with four podium finishes in his last five starts and six this season in total. Grosjean has also had three top three placings. – Agencies
