Buemi and Vips will test on behalf of Red Bull Racing next week.

After the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix the Formula 1 teams are not quite done yet, as there are still tests to be done. For Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon this is not an issue, they can more or less go on holiday, apart from other obligations. Red Bull Racing will have to get to work and through press release they have announced who will get into the car.

Debut of VIPs

Red Bull Junior Juri Vips will make his Formula 1 test debut and reserve driver Sébastien Buemi will also join the race. For Buemi it is well known territory, for Vips it is a new opportunity in his career. The young Red Bull driver is grateful to the team for that, as his words show.

Vips: "I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity that Aston Martin Red Bull Racing have given me to drive the RB16 at the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi. This will be the first time I get to drive a current Formula One car as I did my 300km in an RB8."

"There will be a lot to learn but I will make sure I prepare as much as I can and it has been good for me to be with the Team as reserve driver for the last few races", which has allowed Vips to experience all the ins and outs of the team from the sidelines.

Back in a car after one year

Of course, Sébastien Buemi also has something to say, he says: "I haven’t driven the car since the Pirelli test last year in Silverstone, so the test in Abu Dhabi is very important to me. I spend a lot of time working in the simulator and if you get the opportunity to drive the real car it’s much better for the correlation."

"So, I can give feedback on how the simulator behaves compared to the real car. It also gives opportunity for an extra driver to provide feedback to the Team. It’s a great opportunity and I’m really looking forward to it."