Trio to make early start with new teams in Yas Marina F1 test · RaceFans

Three Formula 1 drivers will have the chance to make an early start with their new teams for 2025 in the sole day of post-season testing tomorrow.

However Lewis Hamilton, who is leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari, will not be among them, as he has existing commitments with his current team. Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur said earlier this year he did not expect Hamilton would be able to participate in the tear.

Outgoing Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jnr has been given permission to test for Williams. He made an early start with the team in a filming day today at the Yas Marina circuit.

Esteban Ocon is due to test for Haas tomorrow. He was released from Alpine, though the team told him he would have to miss the final round of the season, where his place was taken by Jack Doohan.

Nico Hulkenberg will also have the opportunity to make an early start with Sauber, who he last drove for in 2013.

Teams will each run two cars in the test, one to evaluate Pirelli’s rubber for 2025 and another to give an opportunity to a junior driver.

Mercedes intend to run Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the test. However he missed the two Formula 2 races last weekend due to illness and a spokesperson for the team told RaceFans his participation is yet to be confirmed.

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The top three Formula 2 drivers in this year’s championship will all participate in the test. Newly-crowned Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto will have his first test for Sauber, who he will race for next year. Paul Aron, third, will make his F1 test debut for Alpine.

Neither of Red Bull’s 2024 race drivers will participate in the test. Yuki Tsunoda will have his first test for the team while Liam Lawson carries out duties for RB. F2 runner-up Isack Hadjar, who drove Max Verstappen’s car in first practice on Friday, will have a day’s running in the RB20, while Ayumu Iwasa returns for RB.

Ferrari will share their junior driver car between Arthur Leclerc, the younger brother of Charles who appeared in practice last week, and long-time test driver Antonio Fuoco.