Charles Leclerc headed the Abu Dhabi test times on the final day of running in the 2024 Formula 1 season.

Leclerc hit top spot with 40 minutes of the nine hours of running remaining. He was using 2025-specification Pirellis as he’s driving Ferrari’s tyre test car, with brother Arthur and development driver Antonio Fuoco splitting the mileage in its young driver test car for those who have not started more than two world championship grands prix.

Leclerc’s time knocked Mercedes driver George Russell off top spot, although in the final half-hour Williams newcomer Carlos Sainz slotted into second place with a time 0.125s quicker than Leclerc’s.

This was Sainz’s first full test in the Williams-Mercedes FW46, although he had first sampled it using Pirelli’s ‘Academy’ tyres on a filming day at the track on Monday, and he logged the second-highest number of laps with 146 completed.

Both Leclerc and Sainz set their times on the C5 compound, while Russell's best lap was set on the new C6.

Sauber debutant Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top four with a time just under three and a half tenths off the pace. Sauber’s full all-new 2025 line-up was in action, with newly-crowned F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto setting the 17th-.fastest time.

Kimi Antonelli was the fastest of those classified as young drivers, setting a best time 0.363s off the pace for Mercedes. Like all the designated young driver entrants, his was equipped with 2024-spec Pirelli rubber. Antonelli sat out the first half of the day as he’s still struggling with the impact of a fever that kept him out of last weekend’s Formula 2 season finale.

This allowed Frederik Vesti to drive the Mercedes in the first half of the day, logging 55 laps before handing the car over.

Haas debutant Esteban Ocon focused on high-fuel running in the first half of the day, but climbed the timesheets later on to set the 10th-fastest time, one place behind Alpine debutant Paul Aron.

With intrigue surrounding Red Bull’s driver plans, Ayumu Iwasa was the fastest of its four drivers in the RB in sixth place overall. Liam Lawson, in the RB tyre test car, was 13th and completed the most laps with 159, with Yuki Tsunoda 17th for Red Bull after setting his best time in the final two minutes.

Times

1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 1m23.561s
2. Carlos Sainz (Williams), 1m23.635s
3. George Russell (Mercedes), 1m23.789s
4. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber), 1m23.856s
5. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), 1m23.873s
6. Ayumu Iwasa (RB), 1m24.100s
7. Pato O'Ward (McLaren), 1m24.222s
8. Jack Doohan (Alpine), 1m24.268s
9. Paul Aron (Alpine), 1m24.275s
10. Esteban Ocon (Haas), 1m24.305s
11. Luke Browning (Williams), 1m24.375s
12. Ryo Hirakawa (Haas), 1m24.435s
13. Liam Lawson (RB), 1m24.440s
14. Arthur Leclerc (Ferrari), 1m24.576s
15. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), 1m24.632s
16. Lando Norris (McLaren), 1m24.678s
17. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull), 1m24.689s
18. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber), 1m24.738s
19. Oscar Piastri (McLaren), 1m24.838s
20. Jak Crawford (Aston Martin), 1m24.997s
21. Felipe Drugovich (Aston Martin), 1m25.014s
22. Fred Vesti (Mercedes), 1m25.159s
23. Antonio Fuoco (Ferrari), 1m25.238s