Shwartzman fastest for Haas as Abu Dhabi F1 test ends

Shwartzman posted a 1m25.348s in the final 40 minutes of the second day of F1 testing action around the Yas Marina circuit to set the pace for Haas. 

The Russian was the only young driver taking part on Wednesday as he drove Haas’ 2021 car on 13-inch Pirelli tyres, while the rest of the drivers continued to try out the new-for-2022 18-inch compounds on mule cars. 

Having split Ferrari’s young driver duties with Antonio Fuoco on Tuesday when the rest of the teams also fielded rookies, Shwartzman got the chance to sample Haas’ 2021 challenger, the VF21, on Wednesday. 

Shwartzman ended the day nearly half a second clear of Lando Norris, who was driving a modified version of McLaren’s 2021 car using Pirelli’s 2022 tyres. 

McLaren was spotted trailing a new LED lights system on the wheel covers that will feature on next year’s cars. 

Third place went to Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel, while George Russell was fourth-quickest as he conducted his second day of running for Mercedes. 

Pierre Gasly put his AlphaTauri fifth, ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who completed the most mileage of any driver with a total of 151 laps. 

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso was seventh for Alpine, while Guanyu Zhou got his first taste of trying out Pirelli’s 18-inch tyres on the Alfa Romeo ahead of his F1 debut campaign. 

F1’s first-ever Chinese driver ended up eighth in the timesheets having taken over from new teammate Valtteri Bottas in Alfa Romeo’s mule car. 

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Haas reserve Pietro Fittipaldi rounded out the rest of the order as F1 action drew to a close for 2021. 

Williams was the only team not to take part on the second day of running because it does not have a mule car. 

F1’s next official running will be at pre-season testing in Barcelona at the end of February, when the new 2022 car will make its track debut.