Leclerc Sets the Pace in Abu Dhabi Post-Season Test as Sainz and Ocon Begin Next Chapters

Michael Tower

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Charles Leclerc ended Tuesday’s post-season test at Yas Marina Circuit with the fastest lap, putting Ferrari on top of the timesheets. He edged out his former teammate, Carlos Sainz – now driving for Williams – and Mercedes newcomer George Russell.

Just days after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Formula 1 teams were back on track for a dual-purpose post-season test. Each squad fielded two cars for nine straight hours of running from 09:00 to 18:00 local time, combining established drivers and promising rookies. The session allowed teams full freedom to shape their own programmes, as tyre supplier Pirelli imposed no strict guidelines. With that flexibility, crews tested different setups, along with varying fuel loads, and sampled several tyre compounds.

Rookie participants ran the same tyre types that were used during the Abu Dhabi race weekend: each rookie received two sets of C3, four sets of C4, and two sets of C5 tyres. Meanwhile, the race drivers evaluated the homologated 2025-spec Pirelli rubber. Since the C1 compound was deemed unsuitable for this circuit, race drivers worked with a revised selection: one set of C2s, three sets each of C3s and C4s, two sets of C5s, and a single set of C6s, the latter being a fresh ultra-soft addition to Pirelli’s range.

In other notable moves, Yuki Tsunoda took part in his maiden Red Bull outing after previously competing with the energy drink giant’s sister operation. Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli shrugged off illness to continue his path towards an F1 debut at Mercedes, and F2’s Paul Aron turned laps as Alpine’s reserve driver.

Sainz immediately made an impact under his new team colors, taking to the track early and setting strong initial benchmarks. He topped the timing screens at midday, showing encouraging form after a low-key filming run on Monday. As the afternoon progressed and the floodlights illuminated the circuit, conditions grew increasingly similar to those seen in the recent Grand Prix weekend, allowing drivers to push their machinery harder and lower their lap times.

By the session’s close, Leclerc cemented his position at the top, clocking a 1m 23.510s lap time shortly before the checkered flag. His advantage was just over a tenth ahead of Sainz – who bid an emotional farewell to Ferrari on Sunday – and about 0.15s clear of Russell in third.

Nico Hulkenberg, back with Sauber, claimed fourth. Antonelli continued impressively for Mercedes, followed by Red Bull tester Ayumu Iwasa, who spent 2024 competing in Super Formula. McLaren reserve driver Pato O’Ward, known for his IndyCar exploits, took seventh, narrowly beating newly promoted Alpine racer Jack Doohan.

Paul Aron, an F2 standout serving as Alpine’s reserve, ended his day just thousandths behind Doohan in ninth. Former Alpine regular Esteban Ocon, now with a different team, slotted into 10th, followed by Williams prospect Luke Browning and Toyota-supported Haas tester Ryo Hirakawa in 11th and 12th, respectively.

Liam Lawson covered the most ground with a formidable 159 laps – nearly three full race distances – settling into 13th. He finished just ahead of Ferrari development driver Arthur Leclerc and Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar.

Abu Dhabi GP winner Lando Norris completed the morning’s running and ended the day in 16th, while his teammate Oscar Piastri took over the car in the afternoon, wrapping up further down the order. Between them were Tsunoda, making his Red Bull debut, and Sauber newcomer Gabriel Bortoleto. Jak Crawford, part of Aston Martin’s development stable, logged more F1 mileage in 20th, ahead of reserve driver Felipe Drugovich, Mercedes reserve Frederik Vesti, and Ferrari development driver Antonio Fuoco – the latter two also running only in the morning session.

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