The highly-rated 19-year-old was Minardi's test driver in 2000, when he also finished fourth in the Formula 3000 International series.

He was snapped up by Benetton boss Flavio Briatore for 2001, and will be test driver for the Renault-owned team. But Briatore has farmed him out to Minardi to allow him to gain experience.

Minardi were bought last week by the Australian businessman Paul Stoddart, who owns the European Aviation aviation group.

Stoddart said: "We've had our eye on Fernando for some time and we are delighted to have signed him.

"Any driver who can come into the ultra-competitive world of Formula 3000 and, in only his second season of single-seater racing, win at a circuit like Spa, is clearly a bit special.

"He is going to be a great addition to the team, and I know he will help us hit some of the ambitious targets we are setting for European Minardi F1."

Despite those unspecified targets, Minardi are expected to struggle this season.

The team has had to design its new car without knowing until far too late in the day what its engine would be.

The engine they now have, a Ford Cosworth V10 that will be developed by European Aviation, is at least three years out of date.