Ferrari focused on comparing different floor setups in morning test session at Yas Marina. The final track session of the 2024 Formula 1 season is underway with traditional post-championship tests.

The final track session of the 2024 Formula 1 season is underway with traditional post-championship tests. These allow rookies to gain experience in F1 cars using 2024-spec tires and provide teams with critical data for the 2025 season. While one car is designated for rookies, limited to the current year’s tires, the other focuses on testing the 2025 tire compounds, offering valuable insights into tire performance and aiding in simulator development for next year’s cars.

McLaren was the busiest team in the morning, completing over 145 laps with Lando Norris and Pato O’Ward driving. The British driver was set to hand over to Oscar Piastri in the afternoon, while O’Ward continued to build on his prior experience from the Mexican GP’s FP1 session.

Carlos Sainz led the timing charts with a lap time comparable to Alex Albon’s performance in Friday’s FP1. The Spaniard completed nearly 60 laps in his first extensive session with Williams, following a brief shakedown on demo tires the previous day. Second place was held by Charles Leclerc, running Ferrari’s 2025 tires. The Monegasque driver, fresh from a podium finish in Abu Dhabi, completed over 65 laps, setting a best time of 1:24.561.

McLaren drivers rounded out the top five, with Norris in third, trailing Leclerc by two and a half tenths, and O’Ward in fifth behind Jack Doohan. The latter, having debuted in F1 during the Abu Dhabi weekend, tested 2025 tires despite being eligible to use the rookie car. Alpine’s reserve driver, Paul Aron, was also present, using his first test session to prepare for simulator duties.

Antonio Fuoco, in Ferrari’s other car, was sixth with around 70 laps. While Charles Leclerc used a familiar floor from the previous weekend, Antonio Fuoco tested an experimental floor, collecting vital data for Ferrari engineers.

Notable rookie performances included Gabriel Bortoleto, debuting for Sauber and completing over 67 laps, and Luke Browning with Williams. Paul Aron ran in the Alpine, while Yuki Tsunoda drove a Red Bull for the first time, just ahead of Isack Hadjar in the second RB20, who had also participated in Abu Dhabi FP1.

Frederick Vesti, replacing Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the rookie car, was 12th. Antonelli, sidelined by illness during the Abu Dhabi F2 weekend, hopes to return for the afternoon session. Nico Hülkenberg made his Sauber debut, completing 55 laps to place 17th, while Esteban Ocon ran for Haas, completing around 50 laps.