Raikkonen makes Sauber return in Abu Dhabi F1 testing

Kimi Raikkonen made his first appearance as a Sauber driver in over 17 years in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, hitting the track in Formula 1 post-season testing ahead of his 2019 move to the team.

Raikkonen requested he link up with Sauber early in the two-day Pirelli tyre test ahead of his switch from Ferrari for next season, with the Finn taking part in Tuesday’s running at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Raikkonen makes Sauber return in Abu Dhabi F1 testing

Kimi Raikkonen made his first appearance as a Sauber driver in over 17 years in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, hitting the track in Formula 1 post-season testing ahead of his 2019 move to the team.

Raikkonen requested he link up with Sauber early in the two-day Pirelli tyre test ahead of his switch from Ferrari for next season, with the Finn taking part in Tuesday’s running at the Yas Marina Circuit.

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Wearing all-white overalls, Raikkonen hit the track early in the Sauber C37 car – emblazoned with his race number, #7 – to mark his first official running for the team since October 14, 2001, when he last raced for the Swiss team in his rookie F1 season.

Raikkonen makes Sauber return in Abu Dhabi F1 testing

Raikkonen’s replacement, Charles Leclerc, will make his first official appearance as a race driver for Ferrari on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. 2019 teammate Sebastian Vettel is conducting Tuesday’s running.

Raikkonen is one of a number of drivers in Abu Dhabi to switch teams early. Carlos Sainz Jr. will test for McLaren, having been released by Renault, while Pierre Gasly will feature for Red Bull on Wednesday.

Lance Stroll is yet to be formally confirmed at Force India for 2019, but will test for the team on both Tuesday and Wednesday, while Daniil Kvyat will return to Toro Rosso on Wednesday after over a year out of the cockpit.

Despite being on-site in Abu Dhabi, newly-announced Toro Rosso driver Alexander Albon is not currently scheduled to test, with Sean Gelael owed a day of testing by the team on Tuesday.

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