F1 pre-season testing - 17 drivers to feature on day one

Sainz enters the paddock for new team Ferrari with his former McLaren boss — Photo: © LAT Images

Pre-season Testing

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F1 pre-season testing - 17 drivers to feature on day one

Seven teams will run both its 2021 drivers across the two Friday sessions

Sam Hall

Friday 12 March 2021 07:15

Formula 1 pre-season testing begins this morning and will feature 17 different drivers across the day with only three teams opting not to change driver in the lunch break.

Red Bull, Alpine and Williams are the three teams that will give consistent running to just one of its drivers across the two Friday sessions with the latter giving a full day to test driver Roy Nissany.

Williams is the only team that will run any driver other than its two race drivers in Bahrain, with Nicholas Latifi scheduled to get behind the wheel on Saturday and Geroge Russell on Sunday.

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At Red Bull, Max Verstappen will be on duty throughout Friday with Esteban Ocon also set for a busy day at Alpine. Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso will face an equally busy day on Saturday.

The remaining 14 race drivers will all feature on Friday with Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel driving in the morning for their new teams after winter switches. Alongside the duo will be rookie driver and reigning F2 champion Mick Schumacher at Haas.

Lewis Hamilton will begin his title defence in the afternoon with Carlos Sainz also taking to the track for Ferrari alongside rookie drivers Nikita Mazepin and Yuki Tsunoda.

Friday Schedule

Mercedes - Valtteri Bottas (AM), Lewis Hamilton (PM) Red Bull - Max Verstappen McLaren - Daniel Ricciardo (AM), Lando Norris (PM) Aston Martin - Sebastian Vettel (AM), Lance Stroll (PM) Alpine - Esteban Ocon Ferrari - Charles Leclerc (AM), Carlos Sainz (PM) AlphaTauri - Pierre Gasly (AM), Yuki Tsunoda (PM) Alfa Romeo - Kimi Raikkonen (AM), Antonio Giovinazzi (PM) Haas - Mick Schumacher (AM), Nikita Mazepin (PM) Williams - Roy Nissany