Sauber with Gutiérrez and Frijns during the Young Driver Tests in Abu Dhabi

After Silverstone in July and Magny-Cours in September, a new Young Driver Test session will take place at the Yas Marina circuit following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. While Lotus announced that Nicolas Prost would drive the E20 on one of the three test days, the Sauber team has unveiled its complete program and logically decided to call on Esteban Gutiérrez, their reserve driver since 2011.

The Mexican will thus take the wheel of the Sauber C31 on Wednesday, November 7th and Thursday, November 8th, even while he is in contention for a full-time driver position next season. Competing in GP2 this season under the Lotus banner, the Monterrey native finished in third place in the final standings after winning three times this season at Valencia, Silverstone, and the Hungaroring.

But Sauber has also decided to entrust the wheel of its C31 to Dutchman Robin Frijns, 21 years old and a revelation in the World Series by Renault 3.5 championship. The Dutchman, who had driven the Red Bull RB6 during a demonstration day at the Moscow circuit, will participate in the first day of testing on Monday, November 6. On Twitter, the Maastricht native is delighted: « So it’s finally official! I’m going to test with Sauber on the first day, in Abu Dhabi. That makes me so happy! » However, until then, the reigning champion of the World Series by Renault 2.0 will compete for the title in WSR 3.5 against Jules Bianchi and Sam Bird, this weekend, in Barcelona.

However, Sauber will not be the only team to participate in the Abu Dhabi Young Driver Tests, as Red Bull, McLaren, Lotus, Toro Rosso, and Caterham are also expected to be present, while Ferrari, Mercedes, Force India, Marussia, Williams, and HRT have already run their young drivers.