Who is taking part in the 2020 Abu Dhabi F1 young drivers’ test?

A rundown of which Formula 1 teams and drivers are in action in today’s post-season young driver test at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

The 2020 F1 season came to an end on Sunday at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but there is still one more day of on-track running to complete before the action is done and dusted for the year.

Today, eight teams and 15 drivers will take to the Yas Marina Circuit for a day of running, with both McLaren and Racing Point electing not to take part.

The test was originally intended as an event for junior drivers who have not contested more than two F1 races, however the FIA granted permission for teams to run more experienced drivers, as long as they did not compete throughout the 2020 season.

That rule change came after Renault lobbied for Fernando Alonso to participate, and as a result, a number of other teams have followed suit by choosing to run more experienced drivers.

Each team is allowed to run two cars on Tuesday. Here is a rundown of the drivers who will be taking part…

Mercedes: Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries

Mercedes factory and Formula E drivers Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries will each get the chance to sample the reigning world champions W11 car that obliterated the competition in 2020.

Vandoorne, who is Mercedes’ official F1 reserve driver, missed the chance to drive for the team when Lewis Hamilton tested positive for coronavirus ahead of the Sakhir Grand Prix, with the team instead opting to call on the services of its junior George Russell.

But the Belgian, who has not driven an F1 car since the 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for McLaren, will now get his opportunity behind the wheel of the fastest, and one of most successful F1 cars of all time.

2019 Formula 2 champion de Vries will also get a chance to log some mileage in an F1 car for the first time, having never previously had the opportunity while serving as a member of McLaren’s junior programme.

Red Bull: Sebastien Buemi and Juri Vips

Another experienced driver to take part in the test is Formula E and World Endurance Championship regular Sebastien Buemi, who has acted as reserve driver for the Red Bull and AlphaTauri squads for a number of years. Buemi will be able to compare the RB16 in the real world having spent time on Red Bull’s simulator this year.

Red Bull junior Juri Vips will also be in action. After finishing fourth in his rookie F3 campaign in 2019, the 20-year-old Estonian made appearances in the 2020 Formula Regional European Championship and also stood in for the injured Sean Gelael at DAMS in eight F2 races.

A 300km private test with Red Bull earlier this year secured Vips an FIA super licence, while he also acted as reserve driver for the team at races Buemi could not attend.

Renault: Fernando Alonso and Guanyu Zhou

Renault has taken advantage of the FIA’s dispensation to give two-time F1 world champion Alonso a day in the RS20 ahead of his return to the sport with the Enstone-based outfit next year.

In Renault’s second car will be one of the French manufacturer’s proteges and F2 frontrunner Guanyu Zhou, who is aiming to become the first Chinese F1 driver in history. Zhou finished sixth in his second season in the series this year, claiming one victory in the Sochi sprint race.

Ferrari: Robert Shwartzman and Antonio Fuoco

Having missed out on graduation to F1 for 2021, Ferrari has rewarded 2019 F3 champion Robert Shwartzman with a day of running in its SF1000 car after a strong first season in F2 in which the Russian driver finished fourth in the championship, having claimed more wins than any other driver (four).

Alongside him in the second Ferrari will be Scuderia development driver and former F2 racer Antonio Fuoco, after the Italian outfit failed in its bid to hand Carlos Sainz an early Ferrari test debut ahead of his arrival from McLaren.

AlphaTauri: Yuki Tsunoda and Marino Sato

F2 sensation Yuki Tsunoda, who is widely expected to partner Pierre Gasly at AlphaTauri next season despite not yet being officially confirmed, will get a day’s running in the team’s 2020 car.

The 20-year-old Japanese racer will get behind the wheel of the AT01 for the second time this year, after completing some running last month at Imola with the team.

It is an all-Japanese line-up for AlphaTauri in Abu Dhabi, with F2 driver Marino Sato joining Tsunoda in action for the Faenza squad to complete his first F1 test.

Alfa Romeo: Robert Kubica and Callum Ilott

Robert Kubica will get a full day behind the wheel of Alfa Romeo’s C39 after making a total of five practice session appearances as the team’s reserve and development driver in 2020. The Pole is expected to continue in the role with the Swiss outfit next year.

Alongside him will be Ferrari protege Callum Ilott, who finished runner-up to Mick Schumacher in this year’s F2 championship following a thrilling year-long battle. The Briton has not confirmed his plans for 2021, though he has already revealed he will not return to the F2 grid after missing out on a promotion to F1.

Haas: Mick Schumacher

F2 champion Schumacher will be the sole driver in action for Haas, with the German following up his F1 practice bow with the American team at the Abu Dhabi GP ahead of his grand prix debut in 2021.

His new Haas teammate, Nikita Mazepin, will not feature at the test following his recent social media post controversy.

Williams: Jack Aitken and Roy Nissany

Jack Aikten was back on reserve driver duties in Abu Dhabi for Williams, having made an unexpected F1 debut for the team in Bahrain to replace the Mercedes-bound team regular Russell. Aitken will get back behind the wheel of Williams’ 2020 F1 car at the Yas Marina Circuit on Tuesday.

Williams development driver Roy Nissany is also taking part, having combined an F2 season alongside making three FP1 outings for the Grove outfit in 2020.