Carlos Sainz, Mick Schumacher, are among seven drivers selected by Ferrari to test their 2018 F1 car SF71H at their Fiorano base next week.
Ferrari has selected seven drivers for a private test at Fiorano next week. Apart from their 2021 drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, the list also includes Giuliano Alesi, Marcus Armstrong, Robert Shwartzman, Haas rookie driver Mick Schumacher, and Ferrari reserve Callum Ilott.
Ferrari confirms seven drivers will test the 2018 SF71H car at Fiorano next week: Sainz, Leclerc, Shwartzman, Armstrong, Alesi, Ilott and Schumacher #F1
— Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) January 23, 2021
This will be the first time the recruit from McLaren Carlos Sainz will drive a Ferrari F1 car. This also confirms Callum Ilott’s participation, which was under doubt until a few days back.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc is supposed to go through a COVID-19 test on Tuesday, as he was found positive with the virus earlier this month, and a negative result will guarantee his participation for the session.
The test will continue for five years, out of which Carlos Sainz will get one-and-a-half days the Ferrari SF71H. This will be ideal preparation for him before the official pre-season test in Bahrain on 12 March. His teammate Charles Leclerc will also test, recovering from the Covid-19 positive test last week.
Giuliano Alesi and Marcus Armstrong along with Carlos Sainz to test F1 cars for first time
Alesi and Armstrong are yet to drive a F1 car, which makes it a very special prospect for both of them. Shwartzman had tested for Ferrari in the Young Drivers Test in Abu Dhabi.
Mick Schumacher will test the 2018 Ferrari on Thursday and Friday morning, before handing it to the official Ferrari test driver for the season, Callum Ilott. The 2018 car is being used as cars of the last two seasons – 2019 and 2020 – are prohibited by the FIA.
