The two-day test at the Yas Marina Circuit will complete teams with young drivers who will drive cars in 2021 and existing F1 drivers who will use modified Mule cars to test Pirelli’s 18-inch tires in 2022 to run.
Bottas received permission from Mercedes to take part in the test with Alfa Romeo and started the morning training for the first time on Tuesday morning. He will not become an official Alfa Romeo driver until next year.
George Russell will take part in both test days for Mercedes, with Formula E champion Nyck de Vries completing the team’s junior race.
Pato O’Ward makes his F1 test debut with McLaren as the award for his first IndyCar win earlier this year for the Arrow McLaren SP team.
The Mexican driver, who finished third in the IndyCar championship in 2021, completed a seat adjustment and a simulator run a few months ago in preparation for the test and spent the weekend with McLaren in Abu Dhabi.
Patricio O’Ward, McLaren MCL35M
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Bottas’ future teammate Guanyu Zhou will be there for Alfa Romeo on both days of the test.
He will drive the 2021 car on 13-inch tires on Tuesday before switching to the mule car for the race on Wednesday and replacing Bottas.
Red Bull Junior and runner-up in the DTM championship, Liam Lawson, is also making his F1 test debut in Abu Dhabi and driving for AlphaTauri. Juri Vips completes the young driver in the Red Bull senior team.
American youngster Logan Sargeant makes his first test appearance for Williams, who doesn’t drive a mule car, having previously decided to build one.
Sargeant will drive in Formula 2 next season and is a member of the Williams Academy for Young Drivers.
Tuesday was Max Verstappen’s first F1 appearance as world champion after his victory in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
He tests in the mule wagon on Tuesday before handing over to Sergio Perez on Wednesday.
Post-season F1 test – lineup on day 1
Mercedes: George Russell and Nyck de Vries
Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Juri Vips
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc (AM), Antonio Fuoco, Robert Shwartzman (PM)
McLaren: Daniel Ricciardo and Pato O’Ward
Alpine: Esteban Ocon and Oscar Piastri
AlphaTauri: Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson
Aston Martin: Lance Stroll and Nick Yelloly
Williams: Logan Sargeant
Alfa Romeo: Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou
Haas: Mick Schumacher
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https://formulaone.news/mclaren/norris-must-behave-no-differently-in-the-fight-against-f1-title-contenders
