Charles Leclerc ended the 2024 F1 season on a excessive notice, main the post-season check on the Yas Marina Circuit for Ferrari. Leclerc set the quickest lap, edging out former teammate Carlos Sainz, who impressed in his Williams debut, and Mercedes’ George Russell, who claimed third. The nine-hour check featured each rookies and common drivers, with groups experimenting with completely different setups and testing Pirelli’s homologated 2025 tyres. While groups like Ferrari and Mercedes labored to refine their packages, the main focus was additionally on important driver transitions.
Carlos Sainz, in his first outing with Williams, made an early affect by topping the morning session. Building on a quick filming run the day earlier than, Sainz adjusted shortly to his new environment, ending only a tenth behind Leclerc by the tip of the day.
McLaren, contemporary off a powerful outing within the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, divided their check duties between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Norris completed sixteenth throughout his morning stint, with Piastri slotting in just a few locations decrease after taking on within the afternoon. Both drivers centered on testing new parts relatively than outright lap instances.
Red Bull welcomed Yuki Tsunoda for his first check with the primary crew after a number of seasons at AlphaTauri. Tsunoda accomplished precious mileage, ending within the midfield, as Red Bull continued refining their 2024 automotive for additional dominance subsequent yr.
Williams, except for Sainz’s headline-grabbing debut, additionally fielded rookie Luke Browning, who showcased promise by finishing strong laps and slotting into the highest 12.
The day was not nearly seasoned drivers. Mercedes’ extremely anticipated junior, Kimi Antonelli, continued his preparations for a future F1 debut, whereas Williams and McLaren additionally labored with their youthful reserves to check future expertise.
Topics talked about on this article
(*1*)