The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is set to close the 2024 Formula 1 campaign, but teams and drivers will still be hard at work with the post-season test.
On 10 December, just two days after the grand prix, F1 cars will once again take to the Yas Marina Circuit for one last shakedown ahead of the winter break.
The post-season test dates back many years to 2009, when it was held at Jerez, and provides an important purpose, despite the cars not competitively being driven again. So why does it take place?
What is the Abu Dhabi post-season test in F1?
F1’s post-season test is the final bit of designated track action for the year and has since 2010 taken place in the week following each campaign’s finale in Abu Dhabi.
The post-season test runs across a whole day with separate sessions in the morning and afternoon, as teams attempt to extract the final bits of knowledge from that year’s car ahead of the next campaign.
Rookie test has afforded opportunities for numerous drivers over the years – pictured is Sam Bird aboard a Mercedes in 2010
Photo by: Andre Vor / Sutton Images
Not all 20 F1 drivers must partake though, as each team designates one of its cars to a young driver with no more than two grand prix starts. But, given the other car is for those with a valid superlicence and designated for Pirelli tyre testing, teams can also run both of its full-time drivers where track time between the pair is just split across the day.
In 2023, for example, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll split track time for Aston Martin while the 2022 Formula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich drove the other car.
Among the rookies involved in last year’s test were recent Formula 2 graduates Frederik Vesti (Mercedes) and Jack Doohan (Alpine), while Zak O’Sullivan had yet to make his F2 debut and made the leap from F3 to drive for Williams. Sportscar drivers Robert Shwartzman (Ferrari) and Pietro Fittipaldi (Haas) also turned out, while McLaren ran IndyCar race winner Patricio O’Ward.
O’Ward impressed during the test, clocking in at second fastest and just 0.269s behind pace setter Esteban Ocon for Alpine, as 2023 F2 runner-up Vesti completed the top three. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) rounded up the top five, but as ever in testing the timesheets only tell part of the story. Mercedes driver George Russell was down in 20th with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri just two spots above.
In short, the Abu Dhabi post-season test is a normal testing session with teams running different programmes, allowing drivers to offer feedback.
Why does F1 stage a post-season test in Abu Dhabi?
The Abu Dhabi post-season test still carries a lot of importance, despite all grands prix being done for the year and F1 teams knowing where they stand in the pecking order.
Among its main functions is to help drivers set to join a new team in their acclimatisation process. For example, Alonso drove for Aston Martin just two days after contesting the season finale with Alpine in 2022, while Pierre Gasly switched from AlphaTauri to make his bow at the French team.
Alonso got his first run out with Aston Martin, replacing the retiring Sebastian Vettel, in the 2022 rookie test
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Drivers moving into a new environment can head into the winter with some understanding of their new team and have the formalities of a seat fitting completed so that they are positioned comfortably in the unfamiliar machinery.
While limited, the track time provides the driver with an early impression of the car’s characteristics, and the team with an understanding of its new hire’s approach, which can be mutually useful before finishing touches are applied to its upcoming challenger.
Although the test often has an air of the last day at school, every second of track time counts. In particular, this is because pre-season testing is limited to three days, scheduled for 26-28 February in Bahrain.
The test will therefore be an important familiarisation process for those those set to make their debuts in F1 next season. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) and Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) will make their F1 race debut in the 2025 Melbourne season opener, so the upcoming Abu Dhabi test is among the few chances they will have to get to grips with contemporary F1 machinery before the pressure of competition.
For those who will not be in a new team meanwhile, it is an opportunity to test the Pirelli tyres. This can result in important information that can help F1 improve its compounds.
How to watch F1’s Abu Dhabi post-season test
The Abu Dhabi post-season test will not be televised live. The best way to follow the action from Yas Martina is via Autosport, as teams and drivers conclude the 2024 F1 campaign.
Who is driving in F1’s 2024 post-season Abu Dhabi test?
Several young drivers participating in this year’s post-season test have already driven on an F1 weekend, during free practice.
Browning will return to the Williams cockpit after turning out in FP1 for the Abu Dhabi GP on Friday
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
Those in this category include 2022 F2 champion Drugovich, who has featured regularly in FP1 sessions for Aston Martin since 2023. O’Ward is another rookie test regular, as is Doohan, who is making his F1 race debut with Alpine this weekend. Antonelli meanwhile has made two FP1 cameos for Mercedes this year ahead of his promotion to a race seat next 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 ahead of their involvement in the rookie test with Williams and Haas respectively.
But for others, the rookie test will mark their debut in an F1 session. This applies for current F2 points leader Bortoleto, who will get his first miles with Sauber, while F2 racer Jak Crawford, who will share track time with Drugovich at Aston Martin.
The 19-year-old American joined the team’s development programme this year and currently sits fifth in the standings with two races to go.
Several drivers will meanwhile turn their first laps in unfamiliar machinery at the post-season test. Carlos Sainz will link up with Browning at Williams, after departing Ferrari, while Nico Hulkenberg will return to Sauber for the first time since 2013 upon leaving Haas.
The German’s place will be taken by Esteban Ocon, who lost his seat at Alpine this weekend to Doohan.
However, Lewis Hamilton is unable to begin the next chapter of his career with Ferrari at the test, as he departs Mercedes after a 12-year run that yielded six titles.
Toyota WEC racer Hirakawa turned out for McLaren in FP1, but will switch to Haas for the rookie test
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
This is because Mercedes has planned a series of promotional farewell events for the 39-year-old in December, meaning he is not available for the Scuderia. Hamilton said he was “in two minds” over skipping the test, because it provided an important opportunity to introduce himself to Ferrari but “driving the red car for the first time in Abu Dhabi does not excite me”.
One driver who may be excited for the test is Yuki Tsunoda, who is set for his maiden run in contemporary Red Bull machinery that he hopes may result in a seat with the squad next year.
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The 24-year-old has been with its sister team RB/AlphaTauri since his F1 debut in 2021. Japanese manufacturer Honda, who support Tsunoda, strongly requested for Red Bull to finally give Tsunoda a chance in one of its cars.
Team
Tyre test allocation
Young 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
Red Bull
Yuki Tsunoda
TBC
Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg
Gabriel Bortoleto
Williams
Carlos Sainz
Luke Browning
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