Vandoorne and de Vries both race for Mercedes’ factory Formula E team, but will get the opportunity to sample its F1 car next week.

F1 will stage a one-day test at the Yas Marina Circuit on Tuesday, having abandoned plans to limit the running to young drivers who have made two or less grand prix appearances.

It has paved the way for Vandoorne to make his official F1 testing return, having not featured in any running since his final grand prix appearance for McLaren at the end of the 2018 season.

Reserve driver Vandoorne was considered to step in at Mercedes for last weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix after Lewis Hamilton’s positive test for COVID-19, only for the team to draft in junior driver George Russell from Williams.

Vandoorne will now get the chance to drive the Mercedes W11 car in Abu

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