Deletraz fastest as he weighs up Charouz

Louis Deletraz set the fastest time of the Formula 2 post-season test in Abu Dhabi last week as the driver merry-go-round continued for the 2020 season.

Deletraz (above) has driven for Carlin in 2019 but is evaluating whether to stay in F2 for next season. If he does, it would likely be with the Charouz Racing team he drove for in 2018. The five-time podium finisher was joined at Charouz for the test by FIA Formula 3 race winner Pedro Piquet, who was eighth fastest overall.

The only day Deletraz wasn’t fastest was the final day, when Nikita Mazepin topped the charts for Carlin. The 2019 ART Grand Prix driver set the best lap on Saturday morning, although he is not expected to join Carlin for the 2020 season as its driver line-up is believed to be confirmed without him.

Ferrari junior Mick Schumacher – returning to Prema Racing alongside FIA F3 champion Robert Shwartzman – bookended the test, setting the fastest time on the morning of the first day and the afternoon of the last day. The only other driver to top a session was another Ferrari protege,

FIA F3 runner-up Marcus Armstrong, with ART.

In terms of overall times from the three days combined, Deletraz headed Shwartzman, Armstrong, new Virtuosi Racing recruit Callum Ilott, Mazepin and the second Virtuosi machine of Guanyu Zhou.

Dan Ticktum and Sean Gelael were confirmed at DAMS for 2020 before the test. They were ninth and 17th fastest respectively.