At one week before the first "Rookie" day at Abu Dhabi, let's review the provisional line-up, summarizing the recent team's announcements.
During three days, from November 15 to 17, the teams have the opportunity to test drivers that never participate at more than two grands prix.
The grandee teams are taking this opportunity to give their preferred young chargers some rare test laps, like Red Bull will do with Jean-Eric Vergne, McLaren with Gary Paffett, Ferrari with Jules Bianchi and Mercedes with Sam Bird.
But for many drivers, this week will be their first taste of F1 power and some teams take the benefit of those days to sell their seats.
Some weeks ago, we revealed recently that Toro Rosso's rides were open to the highest bidder at around the EUR 200,000 per day, with Sauber's seat costing even more.
Auto Motor und Sport said the price-tags have been up to EUR 300,000 for a single test day in a midfield car. "Success in the lower classes is no longer enough," said the German magazine.
Today's entry list, by team:
Red Bull
• Jean-Eric Vergne, 21 years old, French
(Toro Rosso's third driver, 2011 runner-up Formula Renault 3.5)
McLaren
• Gary Paffett, 29 years old, British
(McLaren's third driver)
Ferrari
• Jules Bianchi, 22 years old, French
(Ferrari's third driver and GP2 Series driver in 2011)
Mercedes GP
• Sam Bird, 24 years old, British
(GP2 Series driver in 2011)
Lotus Renault (Lotus in 2012)
• Robert Wickens, 22 years old, Canadian
(Marussia Virgin's thrid driver. 2011 Champion Formula Renault 3.5)
• Kevin Korjus, 18 years old, Estonish
(Formula Renault 3.5 driver)
• Jan Charouz, 24 years old, Czech
(Formula Renault 3.5 driver)
Williams
• Mirko Bortolotti, 21 years old, Italian
(2011 Formula 2 Champion)
• Valtteri Bottas, 22 years old, Finish
(Williams' third driver. 2011 GP3 Series Champion)
Toro Rosso
• Stefano Coletti, 20 years old, Monaco
(GP2 Series driver in 2011)
• David Ceccon, 18 years old, Italian
(GP2 Series driver in 2011)
Force India
• Max Chilton, 20 years old, British
(GP2 Series driver in 2011)
Sauber
• Esteban Gutierrez, 20 years old, Mexican
(Sauber's thrid driver)
• Fabio Leimer, 22 years old, Swiss
(GP2 Series driver in 2011)
Team Lotus (Caterham in 2012)
• Luiz Razia, 21 years old, Brazilian
(Team Lotus' third driver, GP2 Series driver in 2011)
• Alexander Rossi, 20 years old, American
(2011 3rd Formula Renault 3.5, 2 wins)
Marussia Virgin (Marussia in 2012)
• Adrian Quaife-Hobbs, British
(GP3 Series driver in 2011)
HRT
• Dani Clos, 23 years old, Spanish
(GP2 Series driver in 2011)
During three days, from November 15 to 17, the teams have the opportunity to test drivers that never participate at more than two grands prix.
The grandee teams are taking this opportunity to give their preferred young chargers some rare test laps, like Red Bull will do with Jean-Eric Vergne, McLaren with Gary Paffett, Ferrari with Jules Bianchi and Mercedes with Sam Bird.
But for many drivers, this week will be their first taste of F1 power and some teams take the benefit of those days to sell their seats.
Some weeks ago, we revealed recently that Toro Rosso's rides were open to the highest bidder at around the EUR 200,000 per day, with Sauber's seat costing even more.
Auto Motor und Sport said the price-tags have been up to EUR 300,000 for a single test day in a midfield car. "Success in the lower classes is no longer enough," said the German magazine.
Today's entry list, by team:
Red Bull
• Jean-Eric Vergne, 21 years old, French
(Toro Rosso's third driver, 2011 runner-up Formula Renault 3.5)
McLaren
• Gary Paffett, 29 years old, British
(McLaren's third driver)
Ferrari
• Jules Bianchi, 22 years old, French
(Ferrari's third driver and GP2 Series driver in 2011)
Mercedes GP
• Sam Bird, 24 years old, British
(GP2 Series driver in 2011)
Lotus Renault (Lotus in 2012)
• Robert Wickens, 22 years old, Canadian
(Marussia Virgin's thrid driver. 2011 Champion Formula Renault 3.5)
• Kevin Korjus, 18 years old, Estonish
(Formula Renault 3.5 driver)
• Jan Charouz, 24 years old, Czech
(Formula Renault 3.5 driver)
Williams
• Mirko Bortolotti, 21 years old, Italian
(2011 Formula 2 Champion)
• Valtteri Bottas, 22 years old, Finish
(Williams' third driver. 2011 GP3 Series Champion)
Toro Rosso
• Stefano Coletti, 20 years old, Monaco
(GP2 Series driver in 2011)
• David Ceccon, 18 years old, Italian
(GP2 Series driver in 2011)
Force India
• Max Chilton, 20 years old, British
(GP2 Series driver in 2011)
Sauber
• Esteban Gutierrez, 20 years old, Mexican
(Sauber's thrid driver)
• Fabio Leimer, 22 years old, Swiss
(GP2 Series driver in 2011)
Team Lotus (Caterham in 2012)
• Luiz Razia, 21 years old, Brazilian
(Team Lotus' third driver, GP2 Series driver in 2011)
• Alexander Rossi, 20 years old, American
(2011 3rd Formula Renault 3.5, 2 wins)
Marussia Virgin (Marussia in 2012)
• Adrian Quaife-Hobbs, British
(GP3 Series driver in 2011)
HRT
• Dani Clos, 23 years old, Spanish
(GP2 Series driver in 2011)