Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine) set the best time in Formula 1 post-season testing on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, intended in particular to test the 2024 tires. On the Yas Marina circuit, scene of the last Grand Prix of the season contested last weekend, a total of 25 drivers took to the track at the wheel of one of the two F1 cars authorized by the team. Behind Ocon, Patricio “Pato” O’Ward finished second best time of the day at the wheel of his McLaren. The Mexican is one of the twelve young drivers present on Tuesday for whom it was mainly a question of accumulating precious kilometers.
The Dane Frederik Vesti (Mercedes), reigning Formula 2 vice-champion, is third. The Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) and the Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) complete the top 5 after tests with, however, insignificant results. Frenchman Théo Pourchaire, just titled in F2, is 11th at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo – which will change its name since Sauber announced the end of its partnership with its title sponsor at the end of the year. The new team name has not yet been announced.
Among the twenty starters present in F1 next year, seven of them were missing on Tuesday including the three-time reigning world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull), the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and even the other Frenchman from Alpine Pierre Gasly. During this single day of testing before the holidays, George Russell ended the session in the wall after an accident linked to a technical problem on his Mercedes. The Briton emerged from his car unscathed.
The next edition of the F1 World Championship, whose calendar includes a record number of 24 GPs, will begin on March 2 in Bahrain. Next year, if the American Logan Sargeant returns to Williams (no announcement has yet been made), the grid will be exactly the same as in 2023.
Standings from Formula 1 post-season testing at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday:
1. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine) 1:24.393 (110 tours)
2. Pato O’Ward (MEX/McLaren 1:24.662 (103)
3. Frederik Vesti (DEN/Mercedes) 1:24.679 (106)
4. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Red Bull) 1:24.715 (117)
5. Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari) 1:24.799 (69)
6. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin) 1:24.827 (37)
7. Mick Doohan (AUS/Alpine) 1:25.038 (108)
8. Robert Shwartzman (ISR/Ferrari) 1:25.050 (123)
9. Logan Sargent (USA/Williams) 1:25.263 (56)
10. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:25.371 (66)
11. Théo Pourchaire (FRA/Alfa Romeo) 1:25.424 (96)
12. Felipe Drugovitch (BRA/Aston Martin) 1:25.554 (123)
13. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri) 1:25.570 (59)
14. Jake Dennis (GBR/Red Bull) 1:25.666 (124)
15. Ayumu Iwasa (JPN/AlphaTauri) 1:25.753 (96)
16. Oliver Bearman (GBR/Haas) 1:25.779 (110)
17. Zak O’Sullivan (GBR/Williams) 1:25.842 (50)
18. Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren) 1:25.930 (123)
19. Pietro Fittipaldi (BRA/Haas) 1:25.940 (130)
20. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1:26.283 (58)
21. Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin) 1:26.681 (50)
22. Franco Colapinto (ARG/Williams) 1:26.832 (65)
23. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/AlphaTauri) 1:26.965 (55)
24. Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo) 1:27.387 (106)
25. Alex Albon (THA/Williams) 1:27.824 (51)
