The final day of monitor motion to finish the 2024 season befell in Abu Dhabi as we speak. The Yas Marina circuit hosted the standard finish of season take a look at.
All ten groups took half, every fielding two automobiles, engaged on totally different fronts. One automotive from every crew needed to be pushed by a “rookie driver” outlined by the FIA as one who has not taken half in additional than two Grands Prix, whereas drivers for the opposite automotive had been freed from any restrictions and certainly, some drivers had been already working with their new groups for subsequent yr.
The tyres accessible for these two teams had been additionally totally different and whereas the rookies ran the identical 2024 compounds that had been accessible for final weekend’s Grand Prix, within the different automobiles, these driving had been capable of assess the homologated compounds that Pirelli will provide subsequent season, having developed them together with the groups over the previous yr. The one absentee was the C1 tyre, as it’s not suited to this monitor.
Every younger driver had eight units of tyres accessible: two C3, 4 C4 and two C5. Different drivers had ten units to make use of: one C2, three every of C3 and C4, two C5 and one C6, the latter being the brand new ultra-soft compound which is an addition to the 2025 vary, aimed one expects to be used at some road circuits.
In contrast to the “in-competition take a look at” run on the Mexico Metropolis weekend, Pirelli didn’t set out an ordinary programme for a way the 2025 tyres must be used, leaving the groups free to run them as they noticed match, so as to collect very important information for the event of subsequent yr’s automobiles. Lastly, as decreed by the FIA, no automotive was allowed to hold any parts that had not been used throughout a race weekend.
There have been 9 very busy hours of testing, with only one quick interruption in the direction of the top. A complete of two,578 laps had been accomplished, equal to 13,614.418 kilometres (8,459 miles). All compounds and varieties of tyre had been used: certainly some groups even ran rain tyres or intermediates for his or her set up laps and when finishing up aerodynamic measurements, that are normally carried out at first of the day.
Topping the time sheet general was Charles Leclerc who took his Ferrari spherical in 1:23.510. Second was Williams’ new signing, Carlos Sainz (1:23.635) whereas George Russell was third for Mercedes on 1:23.789.
Whereas the previous Ferrari team-mates set their finest occasions on the C5, Russell did his with the C6. Of the rookies, the quickest was Italy’s Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) with a time of 1’23″873. The three drivers who put in essentially the most laps had been Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls, 159), Carlos Sainz (Williams, 146) and Felipe Drugovich (Aston Martin, 146).
“This was a really helpful take a look at, with the ability to see the complete new vary of compounds which were homologated for subsequent season in use, excluding the C1,” stated Mario Isola. “Monitor situations had been superb, similar to these skilled final Sunday through the closing Grand Prix and with not too dissimilar temperatures.
“We gathered numerous information which is able to now be analysed very rigorously by our engineers and people from the groups to proceed to arrange as totally as potential for subsequent season. From a primary preliminary evaluation, we will say that the brand new compounds have proved to supply better mechanical resistance, which subsequently results in a discount within the stage of abrasion on the tread. As for overheating, we knew it will be tough to see important enhancements, as we ran virtually solely in sunny situations, in contrast to over the race weekend.
“One other necessary subject was to test the positioning of the compounds inside the 2025 vary: from what we noticed as we speak, we will say that the distinction in efficiency between the C2, C3, C4 and C5 is extra in step with our targets, particularly to have a niche of round half a second in between every of them.
“As for the model new C6, we noticed on this monitor, with its very demanding closing part, particularly by way of traction, that degradation even on a primary flying lap is sort of pronounced. Now we are going to perform a cautious evaluation of the info to establish which tracks shall be finest suited to its potential use on a race weekend.”
That brings the 2024 season to an finish, and Pirelli’s System 1 crew shall be again on monitor on the finish of January in Magny Cours for the primary take a look at session of the yr, engaged on improvement of the 2026 tyres.
Driving for Ferrari had been Charles Leclerc, Antonio Fuoco and Arthur Leclerc, these final two each driving what was, up till Sunday night time, Carlos Sainz’s automotive, as a part of the Younger Driver Check.
Charles began off working the C2 compound, earlier than switching to the C4, his finest time being a powerful 1’24″561 on the C4. By the lunch break, the Monegasque had accomplished 77 laps, equal to 407 km. Within the afternoon, he added an additional 59 (313 km) first on new C2s after which switching to the C3 and C5 compounds. His whole for the day was 136 laps (720 km) and he topped the time sheet with a 1’23″510 set on the softest tyre.
Antonio Fuoco was driving the SF-24 for the primary time, beginning on the C3 after which the softer C4 with which he set his finest time of 1’25″238. It was the second time the Italian had pushed a present era automotive and it was a helpful train, permitting him to match it with the digital automotive he normally drives on the Maranello simulator. He did 73 laps, 386 kilometres.
Previous to the afternoon session, the SF-24 was reconfigured to suit Arthur Leclerc who returned to the cockpit simply 4 days after making his official debut at a System 1 weekend, changing Carlos Sainz for the primary free apply session at this monitor, driving alongside his brother. He accomplished 68 laps, 359 kilometres, on the C3, C4 and C5. Right this moment, he was capable of push the automotive more durable, working a extra full programme to the one set out for him throughout Friday apply. His finest time was a 1’24″576.
“It was necessary for me to have the chance to get again behind the wheel of a present era System 1 automotive, having pushed the F1-75 a couple of weeks in the past at Fiorano,” stated Fuoco. “Doing so in Abu Dhabi, simply a few days after the Grand Prix permits for notably significant comparisons, as a result of we managed to accumulate information in related climatic and monitor situations. For me, spending a lot time within the simulator, it was additionally helpful to have the ability to work on correlation: tomorrow I shall be again in Maranello the place we are going to test a number of the information from right here. Then there shall be a brief break for the Christmas vacation after which I am very smitten by getting again to work on 2025, once we need to be much more aggressive.”
“It was nice to be again within the automotive only a few days on from after I drove it within the first free apply session,” added Arthur Leclerc. “Right this moment, I used to be capable of take pleasure in driving the SF-24 far more and we labored on a fairly busy programme, making an attempt numerous issues and gathering information that we are going to analyse within the coming days. As soon as once more, it was particular to have Charles throughout the storage from me and likewise to be on monitor with so many actually good drivers. Subsequent up is one other week working in Maranello earlier than a brief break for the top of the yr. Then will probably be time to start out once more for what I count on shall be a really busy 2025, however let’s hope will probably be a really rewarding yr.”
KICK Sauber F1 Crew formally concluded the season with a optimistic day of testing. The day marked an necessary milestone for the crew, as 2025 drivers, Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, took to the monitor; it was a return to the crew for Nico, who raced for the Hinwil squad in 2013, whereas Gabriel put his first kilometres as a System One driver below his belt.
Each drivers had been going through totally different approaches. Nico’s programme primarily centered on the Pirelli tyre take a look at, gathering essential information for the tyre provider’s method of the upcoming season., Gabriel made use of the day to get aware of System One equipment, and the crew’s processes, shortly adapting and laying a powerful basis for his rookie season subsequent yr.
Each drivers accomplished their respective programmes easily, offering priceless insights and information. The crew now heads into the low season with a wealth of data to analyse, forward of returning on monitor in 2025.
“The primary day collectively is now behind us,” stated Hulkenberg, “and I feel as we speak has been a productive and optimistic begin – we had been capable of care for the fundamentals and start working collectively as a crew.
“It was typically very helpful to get a primary impression of the automotive,” he added. “I am trying ahead to constructing on this momentum within the new yr and actually diving into the work forward of us. I wish to thank everybody for the nice and cozy welcome and I am unable to wait to get again to this in 2025.”
Try our gallery from Yas Marina, right here.
