Formula One 2010/2011 Winter Off-Season Guide

Back to testing – ALREADY!

Red Bull were crowned Constructors’ Champions a week ago, and Sebastian Vettel took the Drivers’ Title just two days ago, bringing a thrilling season of F1 to a close. But no sooner has one season finished, than preparations are underway for the start of the 2011 season. The testing kicks off with the Young Drivers Test in Abu Dhabi commencing on the 16^th November. See below for the calendar for all the off-season action:

 November 16^th - 17^th Young Driver Test, Yas Marina Circuit

This test is open to any driver who has not competed in more than two Grand Prix.

The following teams and drivers have been confirmed:

Red Bull: Daniel Ricciardo
McLaren: Gary Paffett/Oliver Turvey
Ferrari: Jules Bianchi
Mercedes GP: Sam Bird
Renault: Jerome D'Ambrosio/Mikhail Aleshin
Williams: Pastor Maldonado/Dean Stoneman
Force India: Yelmer Buurman/Antonio Felix da Costa/Paul di Resta
BMW Saube:r Esteban Gutierrez/Sergio Perez
Toro Rosso: Jean-Eric Vergne
Lotus: Vladimir Abrabadzhiev/Rodolfo Gonzalez
Virgin: Jerome D'Ambrosio/Luiz Razia/Rio Haryanto
HRT: Pastor Maldonado/Josef Kral/Davide Valsecchi

Other Tests

November 19^th - 20^th Pirelli Tyre Test, Yas Marina Circuit

February 1^st-3^rd 2011 Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia, Spain

February 10^th-13^th 2011 Jerez, Spain

February 18^th-21^st 2011 Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

March 3^rd-6^th 2011 Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain

From January onwards teams will also start to launch their 2011 cars, and hopefully throughout the winter more news of driver signings will be announced.

(There’s also the Race of Champions takes place on the 27^th - 28^th November, featuring many racing drivers from different categories, but including Formula One stars Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Heikki Kovalainen).

While the racing may be done, there’s still plenty going on to keep an eye on through the winter.

Posted by Hannah Hough - Follow her on twitter @hannahhou.

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