2012 Abu Dhabi young driver test preview

Only several days after a surprisingly enthralling Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, six Formula 1 teams are now preparing to carry out their Young Driver Test programmes around the Yas Marina circuit. Both Red Bull, McLaren, Lotus, Sauber, Toro Rosso and Caterham will be fielding young drivers from both GP2, GP3 and the World Series by Renault.

Unlike previous years, several teams elected to carry out their respective Young Driver Test programmes earlier in the year at varying venues in Europe. Williams, Marussia and HRT carried out their programmes at Silverstone back in July, whereas Ferrari, Mercedes and Force India carried out theirs back in September at the Magny-Cours circuit in France. However, the majority of the grid have decided to remain true to tradition, and carry out their programmes at the Yas Marina circuit.

Reigning Constructors’ Champions Red Bull will be fielding GP3 star Antonio Felix da Costa, who took three victories this season, and newly-crowned World Series by Renault Champion Robin Frijns. Antonio Felix da Costa will drive on the opening two days of the test, with Dutchman Frijns taking over for the third and final day of testing. McLaren will be running three drivers throughout the test, one for each day. This will include current test and reserve drivers’ Oliver Turvey and Gary Paffett, along with current World Series by Renault driver Kevin Magnussen, son of former F1 driver Jan.

Lotus will also run three drivers on each of the separate days of testing, only several days after clinching their first victory of the season, and the Lotus’s first since the 1987 Detroit Grand Prix. The Enstone-based outfit features a mouth-watering line-up, including Nicolas Prost, son of former multiple-F1 Champion Alain Prost, along with newly-crowned GP2 Champion Davide Valsecchi and current DTM star Edoardo Mortara.

Sauber will be extensively running reserve driver and current GP2 race winner Esteban Gutierrez, as the Mexican driver aims to capitalize on his run during opening practice at India. With many linking Gutierrez to the vacant seat at Sauber next season alongside Nico Hulkenberg, the Mexican will understandably be eager to impress during his two days of testing. However, Robin Frijns will open test with Sauber, before switching to Red Bull for the final day on Thursday.

Toro Rosso will feature an all-GP2 line-up for the three days of testing, including 2012 runner-up Luiz Razia, who previously tested for Force India at their Magny-Cours Young Driver Test in September. The Brazilian driver will take to the track on both Tuesday and Thursday, with Venezuelan GP2 driver Johnny Cecotto jr. set to get behind the wheel of the STR7 on Wednesday.

Caterham will also be running only two drivers during their programme, which will feature current GP2 and reserve driver Giedo van der Garde and World Series by Renault driver Alexander Rossi. Both have driven for the Caterham F1 team during Friday practice this season, and both will be unarguably out to impress with Caterham still undecided on their driving line-up for next season.

List of participating drivers:

Red Bull: Antonio Felix da Costa (Tuesday, Wednesday), Robin Frijns (Thursday)

McLaren: Gary Paffett (TBA), Oliver Turvey (TBA), Kevin Magnussen (TBA)

Lotus: Nicolas Prost (Tuesday), Edoardo Mortara (Wednesday), Davide Valsecchi (Thursday)

Sauber: Robin Frijns (Tuesday), Esteban Gutierrez (Wednesday, Thursday)

Toro Rosso: Luiz Razia (Tuesday, Thursday), Johnny Cecotto jr. (Wednesday)

Caterham: Giedo van der Garde (Tuesday, Wednesday), Alexander Rossi (Thursday)

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