James Sutton/Motorsport Images
F1 drivers get acquainted with 2023 teams in Abu Dhabi test
A number of 2023 drivers, including Oscar Piastri (pictured), Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg, are getting their first taste of their new teams after switching for the Abu Dhabi test.
Teams are running for one final day this year as part of a Pirelli tire test, but unlike previous tests, they are allowed to run two cars at once. One must do tire testing while the other is a young driver test, meaning multiple race drivers are involved.
While the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull have their usual drivers sharing a car and youngsters on the other side of the garage, the likes of McLaren are able to run their full 2023 driver line-up for the first time as Piastri fulfills the rookie role alongside Lando Norris.
Fernando Alonso officially joins Aston Martin on January 1. Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images
Alpine have Pierre Gasly in the car alongside Jack Doohan, while the driver Gasly is replacing, Fernando Alonso, gets down to work at Aston Martin. Alonso is running in an unbranded car due to contractual commitments as he’s technically on loan from Alpine and therefore unable to promote the Aston Martin brands. Alonso will hand over to Lance Stroll at some stage in the afternoon, with Felipe Drugovich testing in the other car.
There’s also a full 2023 line-up in place at AlphaTauri, where Nyck de Vries gets his first running with his new team alongside Yuki Tsunoda, and at Williams as Logan Sargeant – officially confirmed for next season on Monday – and Alex Albon carry out duties.
For Haas, Nico Hulkenberg is getting his first running with the team before his return to F1 next year, carrying out the tire test duties while Pietro Fittipaldi counts as the rookie in the second VF-22.
Chris Medland
While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three further years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor. Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, his broadcast work includes television appearances on F1 TV and as a presenter and reporter on North America's live radio coverage on SiriusXM.
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