Dane Kevin Magnussen will return to Formula One as a replacement for Nikita Mazepin at the Haas team.
Magnussen, 29, was a Haas driver from 2017 until 2020 when Mazepin and Mick Schumacher were brought in to replace him and Romain Grosjean.
As a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Mazepin was sacked on Sunday.
Magnussen signed a “multi-year contract” with Haas and will drive in Bahrain this week for the pre-season test.
The popular 29-year-old, who is the son of former Formula One driver Jan Magnussen, is making a surprising return to the sport.
When Haas opted to replace their seasoned line-up with two rookies at the start of last season, he declared he was starting a new chapter, but Mazepin’s departure prompted a reconsideration.
Magnussen said: “I was obviously very surprised but equally very excited to receive the call from Haas.
“I was looking in a different direction regarding my commitments for 2022 but the opportunity to return to compete in F1, and with a team I know extremely well, was simply too appealing.”