Formula One drivers (L-R) Jerome d'Ambrosio, Robert Kubica, Vitaly Petrov and Ho-Pin Tung. Photo: Reuters.

The Dutch-born 27-year-old, already the first Chinese national to drive a grand prix car, will be Renault's official third (reserve) driver this season. Tung will also be racing in the GP2 support series with the DAMS team in Renault colours.

"This step will be the breakthrough I think in terms of media attention, of interest," he said at the launch of the new Renault F1 car. "I will be the first Chinese guy ever who is officially part of a Formula One team and that's going to be a big thing, I think."