Following the finale of the 2022 Formula 1 season in Abu Dhabi, six former ADAC Formula 4 drivers were at the wheel of Formula 1 cars for tests at the start of the week. Among those who took to the track at Yas Marina Circuit to complete valuable kilometres for Alfa Romeo was 2019 champion Théo Pourchaire (FRA). Meanwhile, former ADAC Stiftung Sport driver Nico Hülkenberg made his debut for his new team.

Emmerich-born Hülkenberg won the Formula BMW ADAC championship in 2005 and returns to Formula 1 next year, when he will go in pursuit of points with the Haas F1 Team. The 35-year-old already has more than 180 Grand Prix starts to his name. Liam Lawson was also out on track: the Australian and runner-up in the ADAC’s junior series in 2018 was driving for Red Bull Racing. Lawson is part of the Austrian beverage company’s youth development programme.

His compatriot Jack Doohan helped Scuderia AlphaTauri to gather important data and acquire valuable information. A dream came true in the United Arab Emirates for Denmark’s Frederik Vesti, who made his debut for the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team. The former ADAC Formula 4 racer has been a part of the junior set-up at the ‘Silver Arrows’ since 2019. Newly-crowned Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich from Brazil was behind the wheel for Aston Martin. 23-year-old Robert Shwartzman (ISR), who finished fourth in the inaugural ADAC Formula 4 season in 2015, was in action for Ferrari.