McLaren and Red Bull unveil their drivers for the Abu Dhabi test

From November 6 to 8, 2012, the third and final session of the Young Driver Tests will take place, this time on the Yas Marina circuit. After Lotus announced that Nicolas Prost would be given a day of driving with the E20 and while Sauber decided to entrust its C31 to Robin Frijns and Esteban Gutiérrez, it is now McLaren and Red Bull’s turn to reveal the names of the young drivers who will participate in these tests.

On the Woking side, as usual, Gary Paffett and Oliver Turvey will be out for what will not be their first time behind the wheel of the MP4-27, as McLaren had already called upon them last April during the private tests at Mugello. However, the British team has also confirmed that it will entrust its single-seater to the young and promising Kevin Magnussen, seventeen years after his father, Jan Magnussen, made his debut in the premier category, driving the 1995 MP4-10b as a replacement for an ailing Mika Hakkinen.

The Dane, just 20 years old, finished in seventh place in the 2012 World Series by Renault 3.5 championship, where he achieved three pole positions, one victory – at Spa-Francorchamps – and a total of three podiums in his first season. A member of McLaren’s young driver development program since 2010, Kevin Magnussen has been working in the English team’s simulator since the beginning of the season, so the Abu Dhabi tests should not be a complete surprise for him.

On the Red Bull side, unsurprisingly, the RB8 will be entrusted to Antonio Felix da Costa and Robin Frijns. The latter will already be driving in Abu Dhabi on Monday, November 6, at the wheel of the Sauber, but will benefit from a day of testing with the double World Champion team as a reward for the World Series by Renault 3.5 title he successfully contested against Jules Bianchi this weekend in Barcelona.

But before the Dutchman takes the wheel, Antonio Felix da Costa, a member of Red Bull’s junior driver program, will have the opportunity to hit the Yas Marina circuit tarmac during the first two days of testing. The Portuguese driver finished 4th in the 2012 World Series by Renault 3.5 championship, despite missing the first three meetings of the season. The Lisbon native ended the championship in a surge, winning four out of the last six races, making him the driver with the most wins in the season, a standout performance for the rookie from Arden-Caterham.

Among the teams that will participate in the young driver tests in Abu Dhabi, only Toro Rosso and Caterham have not yet officially announced their drivers, while Lotus still needs to announce the name(s) of the driver(s) who will support Nicolas Prost during the three days.