As predicted earlier this week, Lewis Hamilton pulled out of the Pirelli tyre test in Abu Dhabi.

Ahead of the session attended by Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull's 'mule' test cars, it was reported that following his championship defeat to teammate Nico Rosberg, Hamilton was refusing to drive in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

A team spokesman denied it.

"That is not correct. Lewis is still on the schedule and expected to drive," he said.

However, while Hamilton did do a few laps on Tuesday, he pulled out "unwell" and was replaced by Pascal Wehrlein, who was on standby.

"Lewis felt unwell so Pascal stepped in for the later runs," a Mercedes spokesperson confirmed.

Earlier in 2016, Hamilton pulled out of another test with a sore foot.