The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is ready to shut the 2024 Formulation 1 marketing campaign, however groups and drivers will nonetheless be onerous at work with the post-season take a look at.
On 10 December, simply two days after the grand prix, F1 automobiles will as soon as once more take to the Yas Marina Circuit for one final shakedown forward of the winter break.
The post-season take a look at dates again a few years to 2009, when it was held at Jerez, and offers an essential goal, regardless of the automobiles not competitively being pushed once more. So why does it happen?
What’s the Abu Dhabi post-season take a look at in F1?
F1’s post-season take a look at is the ultimate little bit of designated observe motion for the yr and has since 2010 taken place within the week following every marketing campaign’s finale in Abu Dhabi.
The post-season take a look at runs throughout a complete day with separate classes within the morning and afternoon, as groups try to extract the ultimate bits of data from that yr’s automotive forward of the following marketing campaign.
Rookie take a look at has afforded alternatives for quite a few drivers over time – pictured is Sam Hen aboard a Mercedes in 2010
Picture by: Andre Vor / Sutton Photographs
Not all 20 F1 drivers should partake although, as every workforce designates one among its automobiles to a younger driver with not more than two grand prix begins. However, given the opposite automotive is for these with a legitimate superlicence and designated for Pirelli tyre testing, groups also can run each of its full-time drivers the place observe time between the pair is simply cut up throughout the day.
In 2023, for instance, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll cut up observe time for Aston Martin whereas the 2022 Formulation 2 champion Felipe Drugovich drove the opposite automotive.
Among the many rookies concerned in final yr’s take a look at had been latest Formulation 2 graduates Frederik Vesti (Mercedes) and Jack Doohan (Alpine), whereas Zak O’Sullivan had but to make his F2 debut and made the leap from F3 to drive for Williams. Sportscar drivers Robert Shwartzman (Ferrari) and Pietro Fittipaldi (Haas) additionally turned out, whereas McLaren ran IndyCar race winner Patricio O’Ward.
O’Ward impressed throughout the take a look at, clocking in at second quickest and simply 0.269s behind tempo setter Esteban Ocon for Alpine, as 2023 F2 runner-up Vesti accomplished the highest three. Sergio Perez (Crimson Bull) and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) rounded up the highest 5, however as ever in testing the timesheets solely inform a part of the story. Mercedes driver George Russell was down in twentieth with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri simply two spots above.
In brief, the Abu Dhabi post-season take a look at is a traditional testing session with groups operating totally different programmes, permitting drivers to supply suggestions.
Why does F1 stage a post-season take a look at in Abu Dhabi?
The Abu Dhabi post-season take a look at nonetheless carries plenty of significance, regardless of all grands prix being achieved for the yr and F1 groups understanding the place they stand within the pecking order.
Amongst its primary capabilities is to assist drivers set to affix a brand new workforce of their acclimatisation course of. For instance, Alonso drove for Aston Martin simply two days after contesting the season finale with Alpine in 2022, whereas Pierre Gasly switched from AlphaTauri to make his bow on the French workforce.
Alonso obtained his first run out with Aston Martin, changing the retiring Sebastian Vettel, within the 2022 rookie take a look at
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs
Drivers transferring into a brand new setting can head into the winter with some understanding of their new workforce and have the formalities of a seat becoming accomplished in order that they’re positioned comfortably within the unfamiliar equipment.
Whereas restricted, the observe time offers the motive force with an early impression of the automotive’s traits, and the workforce with an understanding of its new rent’s strategy, which could be mutually helpful earlier than ending touches are utilized to its upcoming challenger.
Though the take a look at typically has an air of the final day in school, each second of observe time counts. Specifically, it is because pre-season testing is restricted to a few days, scheduled for 26-28 February in Bahrain.
The take a look at will subsequently be an essential familiarisation course of for these these set to make their debuts in F1 subsequent season. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) and Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) will make their F1 race debut within the 2025 Melbourne season opener, so the upcoming Abu Dhabi take a look at is among the many few probabilities they should become familiar with up to date F1 equipment earlier than the strain of competitors.
For many who won’t be in a brand new workforce in the meantime, it is a chance to check the Pirelli tyres. This can lead to essential data that may assist F1 enhance its compounds.
The right way to watch F1’s Abu Dhabi post-season take a look at
The Abu Dhabi post-season take a look at won’t be televised stay. One of the best ways to comply with the motion from Yas Martina is by way of Autosport, as groups and drivers conclude the 2024 F1 marketing campaign.
Who’s driving in F1’s 2024 post-season Abu Dhabi take a look at?
A number of younger drivers collaborating on this yr’s post-season take a look at have already pushed on an F1 weekend, throughout free observe.
Browning will return to the Williams cockpit after turning out in FP1 for the Abu Dhabi GP on Friday
Picture by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photographs
These on this class embrace 2022 F2 champion Drugovich, who has featured frequently in FP1 classes for Aston Martin since 2023. O’Ward is one other rookie take a look at common, as is Doohan, who’s making his F1 race debut with Alpine this weekend. Antonelli in the meantime has made two FP1 cameos for Mercedes this yr forward of his promotion to a race seat subsequent season.
Luke Browning, the 2023 Macau Grand Prix winner, and 2022 Le Mans 24 Hour winner Ryo Hirakawa, made their respective FP1 debuts on Friday in Abu Dhabi forward of their involvement within the rookie take a look at with Williams and Haas respectively.
However for others, the rookie take a look at will mark their debut in an F1 session. This is applicable for present F2 factors chief Bortoleto, who will get his first miles with Sauber, whereas F2 racer Jak Crawford, who will share observe time with Drugovich at Aston Martin.
The 19-year-old American joined the workforce’s growth programme this yr and at present sits fifth within the standings with two races to go.
A number of drivers will in the meantime flip their first laps in unfamiliar equipment on the post-season take a look at. Carlos Sainz will hyperlink up with Browning at Williams, after departing Ferrari, whereas Nico Hulkenberg will return to Sauber for the primary time since 2013 upon leaving Haas.
The German’s place can be taken by Esteban Ocon, who misplaced his seat at Alpine this weekend to Doohan.
Nevertheless, Lewis Hamilton is unable to start the following chapter of his profession with Ferrari on the take a look at, as he departs Mercedes after a 12-year run that yielded six titles.
Toyota WEC racer Hirakawa turned out for McLaren in FP1, however will change to Haas for the rookie take a look at
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs
It’s because Mercedes has deliberate a collection of promotional farewell occasions for the 39-year-old in December, which means he’s not accessible for the Scuderia. Hamilton mentioned he was “in two minds” over skipping the take a look at, as a result of it offered an essential alternative to introduce himself to Ferrari however “driving the pink automotive for the primary time in Abu Dhabi doesn’t excite me”.
One driver who could also be excited for the take a look at is Yuki Tsunoda, who is ready for his maiden run in up to date Crimson Bull equipment that he hopes could lead to a seat with the squad subsequent yr.
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The 24-year-old has been with its sister workforce RB/AlphaTauri since his F1 debut in 2021. Japanese producer Honda, who assist Tsunoda, strongly requested for Crimson Bull to lastly give Tsunoda an opportunity in one among its automobiles.
Group
Tyre take a look at allocation
Younger driver allocation
Alpine
Pierre Gasly
Jack Doohan
Aston Martin
Lance Stroll
Felipe Drugovich/Jak Crawford
Ferrari
Charles Leclerc
TBC
Haas
Esteban Ocon
Ryo Hirakawa
McLaren
TBC
Patricio O’Ward
Mercedes
George Russell
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
RB
Liam Lawson
TBC
Crimson Bull
Yuki Tsunoda
TBC
Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg
Gabriel Bortoleto
Williams
Carlos Sainz
Luke Browning
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