The 2024 F1 season might have drawn to a close, but the action hasn’t quite stopped yet. There is still today’s post-season test in Abu Dhabi to undertake, which will feature a number of familiar faces – and some fresher ones.
The 10 teams have all day to test out the 2025 Pirelli compounds, with one of their cars specifically used for tyre testing and requiring a driver with a super licence.
The other car is used for the young driver test which must feature a ‘young’ driver, defined as someone with fewer than two Grands Prix starts, which rules out Ollie Bearman, who has driven three times this year – when he subbed for Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia, and when he replaced Kevin Magnussen in Baku and Brazil.
Speaking of Sainz, he will be taking part for new team Williams, with a number of drivers released from their contracts in time to deputise at their new teams. But that isn’t the case for everyone, so don’t expect to see Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari colours just yet.
Here’s the lowdown on everyone that is driving in the test…
McLaren
Oscar Piastri/Lando Norris
Patricio O’Ward
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will share duties for McLaren as they get to grips with Pirelli’s compounds for next season. As the only driver to complete every racing lap in 2024, Piastri hardly needs the practice – but any opportunity to steal a march on his rivals is a welcome one, with 2025 likely to be a hotly-contested championship.
The duo are joined by Patricio O’Ward, who has already driven this year’s car – back at his home race in Mexico. He took part in FP1 there, and also was part of the 2021 young driver test in Abu Dhabi.
