Valsecchi to drive Lotus on Friday in Malaysia

Davide Valsecchi will make his debut as a Friday driver for Team Lotus in Malaysia.

Recently, the GP2 driver and Italian admitted that getting the green light to drive in first practice in both Australia and Malaysia was a "great opportunity".

But the team then announced that Karun Chandhok will be driving in Melbourne.

Finland’s Turun Sanomat reported rumours that both Chandhok and Valsecchi could be in action in the green cars on Friday, meaning that regulars Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli would both be sitting out the initial 90 minute session.

But technical boss Mike Gascoyne confirmed on Twitter: "Karun Chandhok to drive here for us in P1. Davide Valsecchi will make his debut in P1 in Malaysia".

Alongside Chandhok, other Friday-only drivers in Melbourne will be Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) and Nico Hulkenberg (Force India).

Meanwhile, Kovalainen passed his mandatory post-concussion FIA medical test on Thursday following his Race of Champions crash last November.