Two days after the conclusion of the 2025 season, F1 groups switched all focus to 2026’s new period. At Yas Marina Circuit, the standard post-season take a look at had a twin function this time.
Every workforce took to the monitor with one mule automobile to check Pirelli’s new 2026 tyres. The mule vehicles are nonetheless ground-effect equipment, however have been modified to imitate subsequent yr’s downforce ranges – primarily by altering the wing ranges (Monza model) and journey top. The opposite 10 vehicles have been allotted to rookies within the younger drivers’ take a look at.
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and have been “fortuitously” allowed to skip the post-season take a look at, to make use of the Dutchman’s personal phrases. As a substitute, Pink Bull put within the mule automobile to provide him an early really feel for the 2026 rubber, with Ayumu Iwasa serving as its rookie. Subsequent yr’s F1 debutant Arvid Lindblad received his probability with sister squad .
At and , all common drivers have been current, every finishing half a day of working. dealt with the complete Tuesday for – the workforce that attracted essentially the most consideration within the pitlane as soon as the sunshine went inexperienced.
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Mercedes examined lively aerodynamics on its entrance wing for the primary time, providing a preview of what’s to return in 2026. The Silver Arrow featured a prototype that had been accredited by the FIA, permitting Antonelli’s entrance wing to modify right into a low-downforce and low-drag mode alongside the straights, precisely as will occur subsequent yr.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
The variations between the mule vehicles and the rookie vehicles – which, along with working extra downforce, have been nonetheless on 2025 tyres – meant that the younger drivers locked out the quickest occasions. Luke Browning set the tempo within the morning with a 1m23.920s in his . That concentrate on time stood till the solar had virtually set in Abu Dhabi and temperatures dropped.
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Aston Martin junior Jak Crawford took full benefit of the cooler circumstances, clocking a 1m23.766s to go to the highest. The American beat ’s Paul Aron, who stepped into the for this event, and Browning. Mercedes reserve driver Frederik Vesti and Iwasa rounded out the highest 5.
Antonelli adopted in sixth place because the quickest mule-car driver. With a greatest lap of 1m25.170s, he was virtually one-and-a-half seconds slower than Crawford. The Italian was additionally practically a second faster than the subsequent mule-car driver: in P10.
As a result of Antonelli ran with lively aerodynamics, he didn’t have to stick to the 300km/h straightline pace restrict imposed by Pirelli as the hundreds on the tyres will probably be totally different on the straights subsequent yr. Antonelli was additionally the best driver of the day, finishing 157 laps.
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The take a look at ran with out important points other than a crash by Ryo Hirakawa. His incident at Flip 1 prompted a pink flag and harm to the rear wing, though the Japanese driver was capable of return to the monitor quickly after. accomplished solely 4 laps within the afternoon resulting from obvious technical points at Haas.
2025 Abu Dhabi post-season take a look at resultsPhotos from Abu Dhabi Put up-Season TestingCharles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Clive Rose / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
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A basic view because the solar rises over the circuit
A basic view because the solar rises over the circuit
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Pictures
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Steven Tee / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Stoffel Vandoorne, Aston Martin F1 Workforce Reserve Driver
Stoffel Vandoorne, Aston Martin F1 Workforce Reserve Driver
Zak Mauger / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Kush Maini, Alpine F1
Kush Maini, Alpine F1
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Steven Tee / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Kush Maini, Alpine F1
Kush Maini, Alpine F1
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Paul Aron, Sauber
Paul Aron, Sauber
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Ayumu Iwasa, Pink Bull Racing
Ayumu Iwasa, Pink Bull Racing
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Jak Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Workforce
Jak Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Workforce
Zak Mauger / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Kush Maini, Alpine F1
Kush Maini, Alpine F1
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Steven Tee / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
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Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Peter Fox / Getty Pictures
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Steven Tee / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Workforce
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Workforce
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Stoffel Vandoorne, Aston Martin F1 Workforce Reserve Driver
Stoffel Vandoorne, Aston Martin F1 Workforce Reserve Driver
Zak Mauger / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Luke Browning, Williams
Luke Browning, Williams
Peter Fox / Getty Pictures
Paul Aron, Alpine
Paul Aron, Alpine
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Kush Maini, Alpine F1
Kush Maini, Alpine F1
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Peter Fox / Getty Pictures
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Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Peter Fox / Getty Pictures
Jak Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Workforce
Jak Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Workforce
Zak Mauger / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Paul Aron, Sauber
Paul Aron, Sauber
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Workforce
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Workforce
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Mark Sutton / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Workforce
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Workforce
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
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Mercedes entrance wing element
Mercedes entrance wing element
Zak Mauger / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Pato O’Ward, McLaren
Pato O’Ward, McLaren
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Dino Beganovic, Scuderia Ferrari
Dino Beganovic, Scuderia Ferrari
Zak Mauger / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Luke Browning, Williams
Luke Browning, Williams
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Workforce
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Workforce
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Clive Rose / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Workforce
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Workforce
Zak Mauger / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Pictures
Stoffel Vandoorne, Aston Martin F1 Workforce Reserve Driver
Stoffel Vandoorne, Aston Martin F1 Workforce Reserve Driver
Clive Rose / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Jak Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Workforce
Jak Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Workforce
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Pictures
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Zak Mauger / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Jak Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Workforce
Jak Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Workforce
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Pictures
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Dino Beganovic, Scuderia Ferrari
Dino Beganovic, Scuderia Ferrari
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Frederik Vesti, Mercedes
Frederik Vesti, Mercedes
Clive Rose / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Ryo Hirakawa, Haas F1 Workforce crash
Ryo Hirakawa, Haas F1 Workforce crash
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Alexander Albon, Williams
Alexander Albon, Williams
Zak Mauger / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Kush Maini, Alpine F1
Kush Maini, Alpine F1
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Ayumu Iwasa, Pink Bull Racing
Ayumu Iwasa, Pink Bull Racing
Zak Mauger / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Workforce
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Workforce
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
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