F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Teams' line-ups for F1's young driver test at Abu Dhabi

The 2020 season isn't quite over yet, with the majority of F1's teams in action once last time in Abu Dhabi for Tuesday's 'young driver test'.

While a collection of young guns will take to the track at Yas Marina, a few veterans or former F1 drivers will also rack up the miles over the course of the day.

The test was initially scheduled for young drivers only, or those holding an international A licence or who have not taken part in more than two Grands Prix.

But Renault's lobbying of the FIA to allow it to include 2021 driver Fernando Alonso led to a rule change, with the day at Yas Marina also open to drivers who did not race full-time in F1 this season.

Alonso will therefore add to the previous mileage he enjoyed during his testing program with Renault onboard the French outfit's 2018-spec R.S.18. On the other side of the garage will be Renault junior Guanyou Zhou.

Mercedes will entrust its championship winning W11 Black Arrows to Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries, its works Formula E chargers. And Tuesday's test will mark the latter's grand F1 debut.

Red Bull has assigned its RB16 which won on Sunday in the hands of Max Verstappen to former Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Buemi. But the Swiss with drive alongside Estonian young gun and F2 racer Juri Vips.

Red Bull's sister team AlphaTauri will run Japanese F2 charger Yuki Tsunoda, who is expected to step up to F1 in 2021 with the Faenza-based team, and countryman Marion Sato.

Ferrari had hoped to include new high-profile recruit Carlos Sainz in Tuesday's test, but that option was ultimately dismissed by the FIA. Instead, the Italian outfit will rely on F2 race winner Robert Shwartzman and fellow FDA member Antonio Fuoco.

Alfa Romeo Racing has opted for a blend of experience and youth with Robert Kubica and Callum Ilott. Tuesday's test could be the final outing in an F1 car for the 2008 Canadian GP winner, so it could be a send off of sorts for Bobby K.

Haas' crews will devote their time and attention exclusively to FIA Formula 2 Champion Mick Schumacher who warmed up to the test by taking part in FP1 last Friday with the US outfit. As a reminder, Schumacher will be racing full-time next year in F1 with Haas alongside fellow F2 graduate Nikita Mazepin.

Williams has called upon its official reserve Jack Aitken and development driver Roy Nissany to handle its FW43 one last time at Yas Marina. Aitken raced for the Grove-based outfit at the Sakhir GP but was confined to a reserve role last weekend as George Russell returned to the British team after his spectacular Mercedes interim.

Finally, McLaren and Racing Point have opted not to take part in the single-day test.

Check the teams' line-ups hereunder.

Team Driver 1 Driver 2
Mercedes Stoffel Vandoorne Nyck de Vries
Red Bull Sebastien Buemi Juri Vips
Renault Fernando Alonso Guanyou Zhou
AlphaTauri Yuki Tsunoda Marino Sato
Ferrari Robert Shwartzman Antonio Fuoco
AlfaRomeo Robert Kubica Callum Ilott
Haas Mick Schumacher
Williams Jack Aitken Roy Nissany
Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Alpine F1 appoints Sanchez as executive technical director

Alpine F1 has announced the appointment of former Ferrari and McLaren engineer David Sanchez as…

9 mins ago

RB unveils striking ‘Chameleon’ livery for Miami Grand Prix

Visa Cash App RB aims to make a splash at this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix…

1 hour ago

Red Bull after Newey: Falling apart, or strength in depth?

It wasn't so long ago that we thought Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari at the…

3 hours ago

Vettel to pay tribute to Senna with McLaren MP4/8 run at Imola

Sebastian Vettel will pay a fitting tribute to the great Ayrton Senna later this month…

17 hours ago

Jordan: Newey likely to ‘just cruise for a while’

The bets are on about Adrian Newey’s next move following Wednesday’s confirmation of his departure…

18 hours ago

Ferrari reveals red and blue SF-24 livery for Miami

As announced by the Scuderia last week, Ferrari is embracing a splash of blue for…

20 hours ago