Jak Crawford tops Abu Dhabi F1 check, Mercedes quickest of mule vehicles

Two days after the conclusion of the 2025 season, F1 groups switched all focus to 2026’s new period. At Yas Marina Circuit, the normal post-season check had a twin function this time.

Every workforce took to the monitor with one mule automotive 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 fashion) and trip top. The opposite 10 vehicles had been allotted to rookies within the younger drivers’ check.

Max Verstappen and George Russell had been “fortuitously” allowed to skip the post-season check, to make use of the Dutchman’s personal phrases. As a substitute, Crimson Bull put Isack Hadjar within the mule automotive to present him an early really feel for the 2026 rubber, with Ayumu Iwasa serving as its rookie. Subsequent yr’s F1 debutant Arvid Lindblad obtained his likelihood with sister squad Racing Bulls.

At McLaren and Ferrari, all common drivers had been current, every finishing half a day of working. Andrea Kimi Antonelli dealt with the complete Tuesday for Mercedes – the workforce that attracted essentially the most consideration within the pitlane as soon as the sunshine went inexperienced.

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Mercedes examined energetic aerodynamics on its entrance wing for the primary time, providing a preview of what’s to come back 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

Photograph by: Zak Mauger / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos

The variations between the mule vehicles and the rookie vehicles – which, along with working extra downforce, had been nonetheless on 2025 tyres – meant that the younger drivers locked out the quickest instances. Luke Browning set the tempo within the morning with a 1m23.920s in his Williams. That focus on time stood till the solar had nearly set in Abu Dhabi and temperatures dropped.

Aston Martin junior Jak Crawford took full benefit of the cooler circumstances, clocking a 1m23.766s to go to the highest. The American beat Alpine’s Paul Aron, who stepped into the Sauber 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 finest lap of 1m25.170s, he was nearly one-and-a-half seconds slower than Crawford. The Italian was additionally practically a second faster than the following mule-car driver: Oscar Piastri in P10.

As a result of Antonelli ran with energetic aerodynamics, he didn’t have to stick to the 300km/h straightline velocity restrict imposed by Pirelli as the masses on the tyres will likely be completely different on the straights subsequent yr. Antonelli was additionally the most efficient driver of the day, finishing 157 laps.

The check ran with out important points aside from a crash by Ryo Hirakawa. His incident at Flip 1 prompted a crimson flag and injury to the rear wing, though the Japanese driver was in a position to return to the monitor quickly after. Esteban Ocon accomplished solely 4 laps within the afternoon because of obvious technical points at Haas.

2025 Abu Dhabi post-season check outcomes

Images from Abu Dhabi Submit-Season Testing

Stoffel Vandoorne, Aston Martin F1 Team Reserve Driver