Verstappen back in an F1 car, Hamilton misses test for 2022 in Abu Dhabi

New world champion Max Verstappen steps into a Formula 1 car again on Tuesday. The Dutchman will be in action during the test in Abu Dhabi in preparation for 2022. Lewis Hamilton is the notable absentee.

After a blistering Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Verstappen was able to celebrate for a while, but on Tuesday morning he got back into his Red Bull to test with Pirelli's new tyres. In a model car for 2022 he can test with the new 18-inch tyres, which will be used from 2022 onwards.

The two-day test is therefore a good test for new drivers. Valtteri Bottas will drive his first metres for Alfa Romeo on Tuesday and George Russell will drive for Mercedes for two days. Hamilton is besides Nikita Mazepin (who is still infected with the coronavirus) and the Williams drivers, the only driver for 2022 who is not participating in this test. Williams is not participating in the test because they have not made a model of the 2022 car.

In addition to the 2022 programme, a Young Driver Test will also be held at the circuit in parallel. Each team could test the 2021 car for two days, but they had to have a young talent behind the wheel. Red Bull chose Juri Vips, Nyck de Vries got his chance with Mercedes and we see F2 champion Oscar Piastri driving for Alpine.