Abu Dhabi F1 test: Charles Leclerc finishes on top, Arthur Leclerc and Antonio Fuoco also on track. Ferrari ended the 2024 Abu Dhabi tests on top with Charles Leclerc.

Ferrari ended the 2024 Abu Dhabi tests on top. Charles Leclerc clocked the best time, setting the benchmark in the final part of the day with a 1’23″510, a second slower than Oscar Piastri’s best time in the third and final practice session of the season-ending Grand Prix.

Ferrari also fielded Arthur Leclerc and Antonio Fuoco. Charles’ brother finished 14th, while the Italian set the slowest time of the day. However, Ferrari accumulated a total of 275 laps.

Times were not the teams’ focus. Each worked on gathering data for next season’s Pirelli tires, which explains the variety of drivers involved, from regulars to young academy members and new recruits.

One such case was Williams, immediately benefiting from Carlos Sainz’s services. The Spaniard, who joined from Ferrari to replace Franco Colapinto, recorded the second-fastest time, 125 thousandths behind Leclerc. The 1-2 evoked memories of their recent partnership.

Sainz completed 146 laps, using the time to familiarize himself with the FW46—not the car he will drive next year—but to understand procedures, systems, and the behavior of what is expected to form the basis of the FW47 for 2025. Luke Browning posted the 11th-fastest time in the second Grove car.

Mercedes placed both its 2025 full-time drivers in the Top 5, with George Russell third, 279 thousandths behind Leclerc, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli fifth, 346 thousandths slower than the Ferrari driver. For Russell, it marked the end of the season before a well-earned vacation, while for Antonelli, it was another opportunity to get acquainted with Formula 1 and the tires he’ll race with in 2025 for the Silver Arrows.

Between the two Mercedes drivers was Sauber, represented by one of their two new recruits, Nico Hulkenberg. After a strong season with Haas, the German ended the day less than a tenth behind Russell. His new teammate Gabriel Bortoleto finished 18th, nine-tenths slower than Hulkenberg’s time.

Ayumu Iwasa placed the first Racing Bulls VCARB01 in sixth, ahead of McLaren’s Patricio O’Ward. However, Iwasa was the first driver unable to break the 1’24” barrier. Jack Doohan, drawing on his experience from the Yas Marina weekend, brought Alpine’s A524 to eighth, followed by Paul Aron in the second Alpine.

Completing the Top 10 was Esteban Ocon, making his debut in the Haas VF-24 after being dropped by Alpine before the final race weekend of 2024. Like Sainz and Hulkenberg, Ocon completed significant mileage (119 laps) to adapt to his new environment after years defending the Enstone-based team.

Rio Hirakawa, driving the second Haas in the absence of regular driver Oliver Bearman, set the 12th-fastest time, ahead of Liam Lawson. The Australian, 13th, awaits news that could change his life: joining Red Bull Racing alongside Max Verstappen in 2025. An announcement is expected imminently.

Arthur Leclerc, driving the second SF-24, placed 14th, ahead of the first Red Bull RB20 of Isack Hadjar. The Frenchman finished ahead of 2024 vice-champion Lando Norris and the second RB20 driven by Yuki Tsunoda. For Yuki Tsunoda, it was a taste of the car he’s dreamed of for years, though it comes as a consolation since he won’t replace Perez in Christian Horner’s team.

Oscar Piastri, also running for McLaren, finished 19th, ahead of Jak Crawford in the first Aston Martin AMR24. The second Aston Martin was 21st, with Felipe Drugovich just 17 thousandths slower than Crawford. Frederic Vesti was second-to-last in the Mercedes, while Antonio Fuoco, as mentioned, closed the timesheets for Ferrari.