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F1: Davide Valsecchi completes young driver test lineup

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

Davide Valsecchi is the final piece of the puzzle ahead of this week's young driver testing in Abu Dhabi.

With the chequered flag only marking the end of the long 2010 season late on Sunday, the F1 cars will be running around the Yas Marina circuit once again on Tuesday.

According to Turun Sanomat, the last available seat for the two days of Bridgestone-shod young driver running has now been filled by Italian Davide Valsecchi, who won the GP2 race in Abu Dhabi.

In the HRT for the other day will be Pastor Maldonado, the new GP2 champion who is set for a busy week with testing also with the Williams team. Also to appear for Williams is the F2 champion Dean Stoneman.

In the fastest car will be Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull's reserve driver in 2010.

"There is more pressure on me to be fastest, especially as the team has won the championship and everyone knows it's probably the fastest car out there nine times out of ten," said the 21-year-old.

Britons Gary Paffett and Oliver Turvey will be driving the McLaren, and Ferrari's new test driver Jules Bianchi will be in the F10.

Sam Bird will be in the Mercedes, while Jerome d'Ambrosio and Mikhail Aleshin drive the Renault.

Belgian Jerome d'Ambrosio will also drive for Virgin in Abu Dhabi, as will Rio Haryanto and Luiz Razia.

Force India will also have three drivers in action; Paul di Resta, Yelmer Buurman and Antonio Felix da Costa, while Sauber runs Mexicans Sergio Perez and Esteban Gutierrez.

Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne is set to drive the Toro Rosso, while Vladimir Arabadzhiev and Rodolfo Gonzalez prepare to appear for Lotus.


Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada