Vandoorne and De Vries with Mercedes at the Abu Dhabi rookie test

While the eligibility criteria for the 2020 post-season testing day organized on Tuesday December 15 in Abu Dhabi continue to be the talk of the town, Mercedes revealed that it will line up its pilots there Formula e : Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries.

The announcement comes as several riders who would have liked to get their bearings in their new team from next week, typically Carlos Sainz in Ferrari, did not receive authorization to ride during this rookie test. 

This prohibition, which also applies to Sebastian Vettel with Aston Martin for example, goes all the worse as Fernando Alonso, from the top of his 2 world champion titles and 311 GP starts, obtained the federal green light after effective lobbying from Renault. 

While this day of testing was initially reserved for young drivers, the FIA ​​has decided to relax the eligibility conditions by authorizing the participation of veterans who have not competed in the 2020 season. This will also be the case at Red Bull with Sébastien Buemi or even Alfa Romeo with Robert Kubica.

With 41 GP starts between 2016 and 2018 on behalf of McLaren, Vandoorne is not a rookie in F1, unlike his sidekick de Vries. Both men are former GP2 Series/FIA champions Formula 2.

The Belgian, also an official Mercedes reserve, did not come far from making his return to the premier category this season thanks to the withdrawals of Sergio Pérez and Lance stroll on the side of Racing Point, and more recently of Lewis Hamilton.

The Silverstone team finally preferred to recall Nico Hulkenberg each time, while the German manufacturer used the services of George Russell in Sakhir.