F1: Charles Leclerc leads Abu Dhabi in postseason, Carlos Sainz impresses on Williams debut

Charles Leclerc ended the 2024 F1 season on a high as he led Ferrari’s post-season test at the Yas Marina circuit. Leclerc set the fastest lap, ahead of former teammate Carlos Sainz, who had impressed on his debut for Williams, and Mercedes’ George Russell, who finished third. The nine-hour test involved both rookie and regular drivers, with teams experimenting with different set-ups and testing Pirelli’s homologated 2025 tires. While teams such as Ferrari and Mercedes worked to improve their packages, the focus was also on key driver transitions.

Carlos Sainz made an early impression in his first race with Williams, taking first place in the morning session. After a short shoot the previous day, Sainz quickly adapted to his new surroundings and by the end of the day finished just 10 seconds behind Leclerc.

McLaren, which had just achieved a good result at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, had Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri share testing duties. Norris finished 16th in the morning stint, and Piastri, who was replaced in the afternoon, dropped further. Both drivers focused on testing new components rather than outright lap times.

Red Bull welcomes Yuki Tsunoda, who spent several seasons with AlphaTauri, to his first test with the main team. As Red Bull continues to improve its 2024 machine with the aim of gaining an even greater advantage next year, Tsunoda covered valuable mileage and finished in the midfield.

Apart from Sainz’s high-profile debut, Williams also fielded rookie Luke Browning, who showed promise by running consistent laps and breaking into the top 12.

This day was not just an event for veteran drivers. Mercedes junior hopeful Kimi Antonelli continued to prepare for a future F1 debut, while Williams and McLaren also worked with young reserves to test future talent.