Jack Crawford set the quickest time of the day on the Pirelli tire check in Abu Dhabi, as Mercedes and Ferrari activated techniques that replicate the 2026 aerodynamic modifications.
All groups had been allowed to develop techniques to assist them perceive the modifications in steadiness and efficiency that could possibly be brought on by the lively aerodynamics that can come into impact from subsequent season, utilizing decrease drag modes on the straights and better downforce within the corners.
Of those, solely Mercedes and Ferrari had distinctly totally different entrance wings, with Mercedes having a hydraulic system containing two tubes that protruded from the top of the nostril and looped round to the entrance wing flaps. Each allowed the flaps to be moved to a low-drag setting, though Ferrari’s design was extra delicate.
These modifications meant each groups had been exempt from the 300 km/h (186 mph) restrict imposed by Pirelli to cut back downforce, guaranteeing that the info collected was extra consultant of 2026. Ferrari and Mercedes had been solely in a position to make use of the ‘Straight Line Mode’ (SLM) system in sure sections enforced by the FIA.
The system was probably the most eye-catching a part of the day, which drew only one pink flag when Haas reserve Ryo Hirakawa spun backwards into the barrier at Flip 1, and featured new world champion Lando Norris as one among 15 drivers within the 2026 race to make use of rubber vehicles.
After profitable his first title on Sunday, Norris wore a particular gold model of his helmet design and in addition added a contact of gold to his racing boots. He confirmed no unwell results from Sunday evening’s huge celebrations, recording 71 laps within the morning session.
Piastri took over from Norris within the afternoon session, Ferrari additionally break up the operating with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, Williams had each Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, Sauber gave monitor time to Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortleto, and Haas tried to do the identical.
At Haas, after a productive morning for Ollie Bearman, Esteban Ocon had a irritating morning, finishing simply 4 laps in whole earlier than his afternoon ended with an engine downside.
Purple Bull can have Isaac Hajar experience within the automobile all day lengthy as a tire tester earlier than stepping as much as the crew in 2026, making Racing Bulls the one crew with a full two-car driver line-up for subsequent 12 months. Groups are allowed to run a race driver within the Pirelli Tire Check mule automobile and a rookie within the different as a part of the Younger Driver Check, however Hajjar’s alternative Arvid Lindblad was additionally a rookie, so he had a day of operating to prepare whereas Liam Lawson carried out Pirelli duties.
Aston Martin’s third driver Crawford set the quickest time of the day in an unmodified automobile fitted with 2025 tires, with the American setting a time of 1 minute 23.766 seconds within the afternoon session. That meant he completed lower than two seconds behind Sauber’s Paul Aaron, with Williams’ Luke Browning third with a time of 1:23.930.
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli drove all day and was the highest driver on 2026 tires, finishing probably the most laps with 157 and ending sixth quickest behind Pato O’Ward. The IndyCar star made one other look for McLaren, including 127 laps to his F1 expertise.
“This check day is a superb alternative for all groups to check out the definitive 2026 tires, and the compounds can be formally selected Monday,” mentioned Pirelli’s head of motorsport, Mario Isola. “Through the improvement exams organized by Pirelli all through this season, groups independently ran totally different variations of prototypes at totally different phases of improvement, from new constructions to a variety of choices for a similar compound.
“In the present day was the primary time they’d the complete vary at their disposal on monitor, giving them the chance to extra totally perceive the traits of the brand new tires. Through the use of the identical mule vehicles and the identical velocity limits as throughout improvement testing, the crew was in a position to simply evaluate the info obtained at Yas Marina with the info from particular person check days over the previous few months.”
“For our engineers, this check is key to confirming efficiency gaps between compounds and degradation ranges, and this has been the main target of our work all year long. By analyzing new tires with a smaller floor footprint, we had been additionally in a position to affirm publicity to graining and overheating, two results that may be elevated because of the smaller floor space.”
“We should wait till the top of January to see these newest tires in motion on the Barcelona check on new technology vehicles.”
