Jean-Eric Vergne, who was replaced as a Toro Rosso driver by 17-year-old Max Verstappen, will join Ferrari as a test driver for the 2015 season, the Italian team have announced on Friday.

Vergne will work alongside the team’s other newly-appointed test driver Esteban Gutierrez, who was dumped by Sauber at the end of last season.

“I feel very honoured to be joining the Ferrari family and becoming a part of the most prestigious team in the history of Formula One,” said 24-year-old Frenchman Vergne.

“The objective is a unanimous one and that is to help the team 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.”