Bruno Senna will be reinstated after this weekend's British grand prix and will return for the rest of the season, his Spanish-based Formula One team said on Friday.
HRT abruptly dropped Senna yesterday, entering their test and reserve driver Sakon Yamamoto instead alongside the Indian Karun Chandhok.
However the team said today that Senna, nephew of the late triple champion Ayrton, would be back for the second half of the season. "HRT has decided to give an opportunity to ... Sakon Yamamoto for this race," a statement said.
"The team wants to confirm that Bruno Senna has all the support of the Spanish team, that he remains one of the Hispania Racing HRT F1 team's official drivers and that he will be continuing to drive in the remaining races."
There had been speculation in the Silverstone paddock yesterday that a lack of sponsorship payments was the reason behind the change of driver. HRT are one of three new teams entered this season and are fighting as tough a battle to raise a budget as the one on the track.
The team have little hope of scoring so much as a point this season, with just finishing races their main priority. Yamamoto, who can count on financial backing, started 14 races in 2006 and 2007 for the now-defunct Super Aguri and Spyker – then run by Colin Kolles – without scoring a point and was well off the pace in Friday practice.
The Japanese, who celebrated his 28th birthday today, also took part in practice for HRT at the Turkish grand prix in May.