Charles Leclerc of Ferrari marked the final day of the 2024 Formula 1 season by topping the post-season test at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. During a nine-hour testing session on Tuesday, Leclerc set the fastest lap time of 1m23.510s, completing 134 laps. His performance in the cooler conditions after sunset was enough to outpace Mercedes’ George Russell, who had been leading earlier in the day with an identical lap count.
On his full Williams debut, Carlos Sainz posted a strong performance, finishing second, just 0.125 seconds behind Russell, with 146 laps completed. Nico Hulkenberg, testing for Sauber, secured fourth place on his first day with the team. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a 2025 Mercedes rookie, placed fifth despite sitting out the morning due to illness.
While the times from the test aren’t fully indicative of the teams’ potential performance, given the unknown tire compounds, fuel loads, and other variables, the test still provided valuable data for Pirelli and the teams. The session was mostly trouble-free, with only a brief red flag towards the end of the day.
Among other noteworthy appearances, Esteban Ocon used the test to familiarize himself with his new Haas team, completing 119 laps and finishing 10th. F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto made his Sauber debut, while Yuki Tsunoda finally had the opportunity to test for Red Bull, completing 127 laps. Isack Hadjar, a 2025 Red Bull prospect and F2 runner-up, also participated.
McLaren’s IndyCar star Pato O’Ward was given another testing chance, completing two full Grand Prix distances. The test marked the end of the 2024 F1 season, with the next on-track action scheduled for the Bahrain winter test in February 2025, ahead of the season opener in Melbourne on March 16.
