The driver line-up for the start of pre-season testing at the Circuit de Catalunya has been confirmed.
Robert Kubica is the only test driver so far to have been given an opportunity to participate in this week’s test. He will drive the new Alfa Romeo C42 this morning before handing it over to the team’s regular drivers.The other nine teams are all expected to use their race drivers throughout the test. Many will rotate between them on each day, however Red Bull, McLaren, Alpine and AlphaTauri are among those who will have the same drivers in their cars all day today.
New world champion Max Verstappen will be on track for Red Bull today. His team mate Sergio Perez will have to wait until tomorrow to begin testing, as will Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda.
Teams have three days of running at the Circuit de Catalunya today and a further three days in Bahrain ahead of the first race of the season next month. The teams intend to conduct wet track testing on the afternoon of the final day on an artificially drenched surfaced, unless it rains prior to then.
2022 pre-season test one driver line-up
| Wednesday morning | Wednesday afternoon | Thursday morning | Thursday afternoon | Friday morning | Friday afternoon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes | George Russell | Lewis Hamilton | Lewis Hamilton | George Russell | George Russell | Lewis Hamilton |
| Red Bull | Max Verstappen | Sergio Perez | Max Verstappen | Sergio Perez | ||
| Ferrari | Charles Leclerc | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Charles Leclerc | Charles Leclerc | Carlos Sainz Jnr |
| McLaren | Lando Norris | Daniel Ricciardo | Lando Norris | Daniel Ricciardo | ||
| Alpine | Fernando Alonso | Esteban Ocon | Fernando Alonso | Esteban Ocon | ||
| AlphaTauri | Yuki Tsunoda | Pierre Gasly | Pierre Gasly | Yuki Tsunoda | ||
| Aston Martin | Sebastian Vettel | Lance Stroll | Lance Stroll | Sebastian Vettel | Sebastian Vettel | Lance Stroll |
| Williams | Nicholas Latifi | Alexander Albon | Alexander Albon | Nicholas Latifi | Nicholas Latifi | Alexander Albon |
| Alfa Romeo | Robert Kubica | Valtteri Bottas | Valtteri Bottas | Guanyu Zhou | Guanyu Zhou | Valtteri Bottas |
| Haas | Nikita Mazepin | Mick Schumacher | Mick Schumacher | Nikita Mazepin | Nikita Mazepin | Mick Schumacher |
This article will be updated.
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Aussie Rod (@aussierod)
23rd February 2022, 7:38
Can someone explain to me why on earth Alpha Romeo would sacrifice any track time at all by giving the car to Robert when they have two new drivers to settle in and sort out in such a short period of time ?
Doesn’t make sense at all.
Richard
23rd February 2022, 7:45
I agree it would not make sense to sacrifice track time with two new drivers and one being a rookie. My guess is that Robert being Polish, who has deep connections with Orlen a major sponsor and Polish company, that they are somehow obligated to do so.
Ruben
23rd February 2022, 7:49
Money! Orlen is a Polish company and it’s sponsorship is tied to Kubica’s (probably visible..) presence at the team.
Big Dave
23rd February 2022, 7:49
There is value in being able to compare a car in the simulator to the feel on the track – and with Kubica as the only ‘returning’ driver for the team, I can see some sense in giving him some running and then sending him back to the factory.
He knows the guys he is working with – presumably has done more sim work for Alfa in the last few years (and will continue to this year) than the full time drivers – and I would think they value his input.
Does that outweigh another day getting used to the car for a full time driver? Maybe not – but the car development will be rapid at the beginning of the year, so having his input will be of some value.
Jere (@jerejj)
23rd February 2022, 7:56
@Big Dave Fair enough.
MacLeod (@macleod)
23rd February 2022, 8:00
Well said! A test driver who does simulation work must have a idea how the car works in real.
Turch17 (@turch17)
23rd February 2022, 7:52
I am surprised as well, buy my guess is that Robert is the only one who can give them feedback based on the difference between the old car and the new car.
Aussie Rod (@aussierod)
23rd February 2022, 7:57
Ok two good reasons. I still think it’s nuts though :P
Jere (@jerejj)
23rd February 2022, 7:56
I’m surprised still not all teams have test line-ups confirmed.
Retired (@jeff1s)
23rd February 2022, 11:56
Still I am puzzled and angry af not be able to attend testinbg this week, but even more we have no live broadcast, because cash is king, and king is bahrani.
I mean, do we just accept it as a community ? Opinion articles are fading, withering, wilting here just as founder Keith Collantine – and it is the same reason as above, money. Reading last months articles, full of typos and Instagram news, I wonder if RaceFans is now different to others.