The Ferrari Formula 1 team is preparing for a historic driver swap at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend. The upcoming race will mark a significant moment for the team, as it will be the final race of the 2024 season for current drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. This driver change comes after the announcement earlier this year that Lewis Hamilton would be joining Ferrari for 2025 and beyond, effectively ending the current partnership between Leclerc and Sainz at the Scuderia.
The news of Hamilton’s move to Ferrari has already been confirmed, and Sainz’s departure from the team is also set for 2025, with the Spaniard moving to Williams. This weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be an important one for Sainz, who has the chance to end his tenure with Ferrari on a high note. However, in a twist, Sainz will vacate his seat for the first practice session (FP1) of the weekend, making way for an exciting and historic lineup. Ferrari will field a pair of brothers, with Arthur Leclerc, Charles’s younger sibling, stepping into the car alongside his brother.
Arthur Leclerc, a product of the Ferrari Driver Academy, has made a name for himself in the racing world, having competed in Formula 3 and Formula 2 before becoming Ferrari’s development driver. He is no stranger to F1 machinery, having taken part in testing sessions earlier this year in Barcelona and Fiorano. Additionally, he has secured race victories in both the European Le Mans Series and the Italian GT Championship. This weekend’s session will be a special moment as the Leclerc brothers become the first siblings to share the track during a Grand Prix session since Michael and Ralf Schumacher raced together in 2006.
As Ferrari approaches the season finale in Abu Dhabi, they are in a battle for the constructors’ title, with McLaren currently holding a 21-point lead over the Scuderia. The weekend will also mark the end of Hamilton’s long tenure with Mercedes, making this grand prix a memorable occasion for several reasons.
