New F1 World Champion Max Verstappen is back in action for post-season testing at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Fresh from clinching the 2021 title in dramatic circumstances, Verstappen has returned to the wheel of his Red Bull to sign off the year, with several familiar names and new faces joining him on track. All 10 teams are in action this week , as Pirelli's dedicated tyre test and F1's 'Young Driver Test' run in parallel across two days. Regular F1 drivers, including Verstappen, are carrying out tests on Pirelli's new-for-2022 18-inch tyres (using mule cars), while a host of young drivers are running in 2021 cars on the outgoing 13-inch wheels. Drivers switching to their new teams are George Russell (from Williams to Mercedes) and Valtteri Bottas (from Mercedes to Alfa Romeo). IndyCar race winner Pato O'Ward is making his F1 test debut with McLaren, while there are also maiden runs for Red Bull junior and DTM runner-up Liam Lawson (at Alpha Tauri) and Williams-backed F2 driver Logan Sargeant. F2 champion Oscar Piastri is getting some more F1 test mileage under his belt at Alpine, while this year's series runner-up, Guanyu Zhou, drives for Alfa Romeo ahead of stepping up to F1 with the team next year. Lewis Hamilton has not been scheduled to drive this week. Check out some of the drivers and teams in action below!
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📻 “First lap. How was that, Pato?” @PatricioOWard : “Ahh, this is cool!” pic.twitter.com/eXPk5X0rAa — McLaren (@McLarenF1) December 14, 2021
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Car, car, Os-car 😏 #F1Testing @OscarPiastri pic.twitter.com/VclP8suQIZ — Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) December 14, 2021
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heading out in an @f1 car for the first time 🤙 enjoy it @LiamLawson30 !! pic.twitter.com/qSgkvtTPra — Scuderia AlphaTauri (@AlphaTauriF1) December 14, 2021
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Spot the difference… #F1Testing is underway at @ymcofficial , with @NickYelloly & @lance_stroll at the wheel. pic.twitter.com/oESBTDyjtF — Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) December 14, 2021
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👋🏻 from day one of the @pirellisport test. Today @SchumacherMick is behind the wheel trying out the 18-inch tires. His first laps are on the C4 compound. #HaasF1 pic.twitter.com/iq8a5LyEqr — Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) December 14, 2021
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