Formula 1 testing continues at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya on Wednesday, with plenty of new and inexperienced drivers getting their chance to shine.
Wednesday is the second day of the in-season at the Barcelona circuit, officially marking the end of Formula 1 testing for 2019. While there are separate Pirelli tests involving individual teams over the coming months, this is the last day of what could be described as group testing as all the teams can take part if they wish.
All of the teams are doing just that, with everyone supplying a car and driver for today’s action, although Ferrari and Racing Point are supplying an extra car on behalf of Pirelli’s separate tyre testing programme. Charles Leclerc & Lance Stroll will be carrying out those duties for Pirelli, testing out prototype tyre compounds. Ferrari & Racing Point won’t gain any knowledge from this, as they aren’t told details of exactly what tyre compounds they are running, and nor are they allowed to make any changes to the car from a previously used racing setup.
Ferrari are running Antonio Fuoco for their own programme, while Racing Point have Nick Yelloly behind the wheel of their car. Two unfamiliar names to join quite a long list of unfamiliar faces, actually. This is because Formula 1 testing rules state two of the four in-season testing day in 2019 must be given to young drivers, defined as those of two Grands Prix experience or fewer.
That’s why Mercedes have young Russian F2 racer Nikita Mazepin driving their W10 today, while 2018 F3 runner up Dan Ticktum is driving the Red Bull.
Here’s the full list of drivers for today:
- Mercedes: Nikita Mazepin
- Ferrari: Antonio Fuoco
- Red Bull Racing: Dan Ticktum
- Renault: Jack Aitken
- Haas: Kevin Magnussen
- McLaren: Oliver Turvey (AM) / Sergio Sette Camara (PM)
- Racing Point: Nick Yelloly
- Alfa Romeo: Kimi Raikkonen
- Toro Rosso: Alexander Albon
- Williams: Nicholas Latifi
