Heikki Kovalainen will return to the cockpit this weekend for the 2013 F1 Belgian Grand Prix, after Caterham confirmed the Finn will drive in opening practice.

Kovalainen, who raced for the team for three years, but who has spent this year on the sidelines, will use Charles Pic’s car in FP1 at Spa-Francorchamps.

He will also get to drive in FP1 at Monza as well next month, but using the car of Giedo van der Garde.

It is the second time this year Caterham have called on the services of their former driver, as he was also drafted in drive in FP1 in both Bahrain and Spain to help the outfit with the introduction of a series of upgrades and to give feedback on the CT03.

He is due to perform a similar role over the next two grands prix: “First news today is that @H_Kovalainen is driving FP1 for us here in Spa (in @Charles_Pic1’s car) FP1 in Monza (in @GvanderGarde’s car),” Caterham confirmed via Twitter.

“Mirroring the work @H_Kovalainen did for us in FP1 in Bahrain Barcelona, he’ll be giving us another view of the car here at Spa in Monza.”