It was a perfect teaser of what things would look like in Formula One 2025 season at the last day of 2024 season - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi Test. Charles Leclerc ended the 2024 Formula 1 season on a high, setting the fastest lap on the final day of post-season testing in Abu Dhabi. The Monegasque driver outpaced his former Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz by 0.125 seconds, marking a dominant performance for Ferrari at the Yas Marina Circuit. The day’s action was a combination of Pirelli tyre evaluation and a young driver test, bringing together a mix of experienced drivers and fresh talent.
Leclerc Outpaces Sainz in Final Hour
Sainz, who had been at the top of the timesheets for most of the nine-hour test, was displaced by Leclerc in the final hour. Leclerc set the fastest lap of the day with a time of 1m23.510s, a second slower than his pole time from Saturday’s race at the same track. Sainz, now in the midst of transitioning to Williams for 2025, was second-fastest with his own impressive performance. It was a historic moment for Sainz, as it marked his official debut for the Williams team, following a private test with them the previous day.
The test ran without incident until the final eight minutes, when a red flag was waved for an unknown reason, briefly halting the action.
Russell, Hulkenberg, and Antonelli Make Their Mark
Mercedes’ George Russell rounded out the top three, further cementing Mercedes’ strong post-season form. Ex-Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg, who is set to join Sauber for 2025, impressed on his second debut with the team, securing fourth place. His new teammate, Gabriel Bortoleto, the 2024 F2 champion, made his first official F1 appearance and finished 18th after a challenging outing.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli also made an appearance in the Mercedes W15 after missing the morning session due to illness. He finished the day in fifth place. Meanwhile, Amuyu Iwasa of Red Bull showed strong progress, climbing into sixth place with a big improvement in the late stages of the test.
Pato O’Ward, representing McLaren, finished seventh, while Jack Doohan, who made his F1 race debut with Alpine the previous weekend, took eighth. Newly confirmed Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron completed the top 10 on his first outing in F1.
Sainz’s Official Williams Debut
Carlos Sainz’s official debut for Williams came after a remarkable 2024 season, where he ended his Ferrari career with a second-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. On his first day of testing with Williams, Sainz completed a substantial 146 laps, becoming well-acquainted with the FW46. Despite the team's change in lineup for 2025, Sainz was running in plain white overalls, as Ferrari had agreed to release him early for testing.
Sainz, who had been a part of Ferrari for several years, was seen adapting quickly to his new car, which is powered by a Mercedes engine. His performance and extensive laps showed his readiness for the 2025 season. Sainz’s presence was one of four driver debuts for their new teams during the test, signaling the new chapter for several F1 drivers.
New Faces and Veteran Drivers in Testing
Nico Hulkenberg, another driver adjusting to a new team, debuted for Sauber. Hulkenberg, who had a brief spell with Sauber in 2013, was reintroduced to the team and familiarized himself with the car. He completed 113 laps and finished in fourth place overall, a solid result for the German veteran as he prepares for the upcoming season.
Meanwhile, Esteban Ocon, who was released early from his contract with Alpine to join Haas for 2025, also participated in the test. Ocon, who sat out the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in favor of his 2025 replacement Jack Doohan, completed 119 laps for Haas and finished inside the top 10.
Liam Lawson, who was part of Red Bull’s 2024 driver rotation, completed 159 laps during the test, more than any other driver, finishing in 13th place overall. The young driver demonstrated strong endurance and valuable experience as he prepares for future F1 opportunities.
Key Developments and Future Prospects
The Abu Dhabi post-season test provided fans and teams with a glimpse into the future of F1. Several key moments included the debuts of drivers like Bortoleto and Ocon for their new teams, and Sainz’s transition to Williams. With the 2025 season fast approaching, the test was an important opportunity for teams to evaluate their cars and gather data ahead of the new campaign.
The 2025 F1 season will kick off with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 16, but the Abu Dhabi test marked the official conclusion of the 2024 season, setting the stage for the next chapter in Formula 1 history.
