The 2023 F1 season’s final race of the campaign will take place this Sunday at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit, which will see Max Verstappen lift the drivers’ world championship for a third season in a row. The Dutchman has dominated his competition, winning 18 races out of 21 so far.
Red Bull has only lost one race in 2023 too, coming in Singapore to Ferrari and Carlos Sainz. No. 2 driver Sergio Perez has two wins to his name and a win in Abu Dhabi on Sunday further solidifies Red Bull and Verstappen’s claim to the most dominant F1 campaign of all time. But before lights out, F1 fans will be treated to a viewing of the sport’s next generation of stars, with ten drivers taking to the track in practice. The Daily Express Sport US takes a look at who they are.
Pato O’Ward – McLaren
Mexican racer Pato O’Ward will drive in FP1 at Abu Dhabi for the second year running. The 24-year-old will turn out for McLaren and he is already a star in his own right in IndyCar, finishing fourth overall.
Jake Dennis – Red Bull
Red Bull has the best driver development program in the sport and British star Jake Dennis is considered one of their brightest. He has been Red Bull’s development and simulator driver since 2018 and is the reigning Formula E world champion.
Isack Hadjar – Red Bull
Nicknamed “Little Prost”, after F1 legend Alain, by Red Bull’s Helmut Marko, Isack Hadjar is one to watch, being just 19 years old. He has already been behind the wheel of an F1 car this season, driving for AlphaTauri in Mexico City.
Frederik Vesti – Mercedes
Like Hadjar, Frederik Vesti has already driven an F1 car this year, getting behind the wheel of George Russell’s Mercedes in Mexico City. But this time, Vesti will drive seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton’s car in Abu Dhabi. The Dane is second in the F2 championship and is highly regarded.
Don’t miss…
Max Verstappen’s £12 million solution to world champion’s brutal F1 schedule[LATEST]
Rosberg makes bold Hamilton title prediction as Horner jumps to Verstappen’s aid[LATEST]
Max Verstappen’s private comment to David Croft just sums Red Bull driver up[LATEST]
- Support fearless journalism
- Read The Daily Express online, advert free
- Get super-fast page loading
Robert Shwartzman – Ferrari
Robert Shwartzman, a 24-year-old Russian, is a name F1 fans have heard before. He drove Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari in FP1 twice last season, at the Dutch GP and in Abu Dhabi last season. He has competing in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup but will return to an F1 car, and circuit, in place of Charles Leclerc.
Felipe Drugovich – Aston Martin
Brazilian Felipe Drugovich is a driver who has been knocking on the door of F1 for a while and he was even being touted to potentially unseat American Logan Sargeant at Williams for 2024. However, the 2022 F2 champion will remain Aston Martin’s reserve driver and step in for two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso.
Don’t miss…
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s Ferrari comment speaks volumes ahead of Abu Dhabi GP[LATEST]
F1 pundit makes concerning comment about Toto Wolff after Las Vegas GP[LATEST]
Sergio Perez brutally told he made mistake ‘even a 13-year-old wouldn’t make'[LATEST]
Jack Doohan – Alpine
Australian Jack Doohan is fourth in F2 and he is also the son of legendary 500cc motorbike racer Mick Doohan, and he has also already driven an F1 car, like many of his peers on this list. Doohan competed in both Mexico and Abu Dhabi FP1 sessions in the 2022 campaign and will drive Esteban Ocon’s Alpine.
Zak O’Sullivan – Williams
Finishing runner-up in F3 was enough to earn Brit Zak O’Sullivan a run-out. The 18-year-old will take over from Alex Albon in Abu Dhabi for Williams.
Theo Pourchaire – Alfa Romeo
French driver Theo Pourchaire is the current F2 championship leader but he is just 25 points ahead of rival Vesti, who will be driving in practice for Merc. Pourchaire had a tough time driving an F1 car in Mexico City but he will return in Abu Dhabi. He will drive Zhou Guanyu’s Alfa Romeo.
Oliver Bearman – Haas
Oliver Bearman is just 18 years old and won four F2 races in 2023. He was also arguably the most impressive, and comfortable, behind the wheel of an F1 car in Mexico City this year. Bearman replaces Haas’ Nico Hulkenburg.
Source: Read Full Article