Analysis: Ocon sets pace in post-season Abu Dhabi test

Alpine driver Esteban Ocon topped the timesheets in F1’s post-season test on the ultimate day of monitor operating for 2023 in Abu Dhabi as George Russell’s automobile failure precipitated a heavy crash on the Yas Marina Circuit.

Following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, F1 groups stayed on the Yas Marina Circuit for a final one-day test that featured a mixed Pirelli tyre and younger driver test.

Alpine with the quickest lap

Alpine’s Esteban Ocon ended the day with the quickest time on a 1m24.393s, almost three-tenths quicker than his nearest rival. The French driver was joined by Reserve Driver Jack Doohan on monitor at Yas Marina Circuit for a full day’s test. The F2 driver, who received the Feature Race on Sunday at Abu Dhabi, racked up a complete of 108 lap en path to the sixth quickest lap.

Commenting on his day, Ocon mentioned: “The on-track season has formally completed with post-race testing right here in Abu Dhabi. We had a really busy day with an necessary and intensive programme to undergo. We ended up doing over two race distances and acquired by way of our plan efficiently, testing totally different compounds, gas hundreds and set-ups.

“It’s all the time good to see your identify subsequent to P1 however on test days this stuff are irrelevant! We say goodbye to the A523 right this moment, a automobile that introduced us some highs and lows this season however which has additionally served as a base to stress the areas we have to enhance in order to be higher in 2024. Now it’s time for some relaxation earlier than beginning our preparations for subsequent season.”

Speaking of his lengthy day behind the wheel of the Alpine, Doohan added: “It’s been an amazing day and it’s all the time good to have a full day’s testing as there’s that little bit extra freedom to discover the automobile. Driving in Free Practice 1 was an incredible expertise final week however on test days, there’s way more to do and the programme is an entire lot larger and extra detailed.

“Today we ran by way of a busy guidelines, assessed varied tyre compounds, gas hundreds and set-up gadgets and we accomplished 108 laps. I might say bodily that’s a troublesome problem however I really feel good and it’s necessary for the staff to have all the info. The automobile felt good and I’m happy that we executed our programme properly. I felt snug, proud of the day’s work and now it’s time for a break from driving earlier than we shift focus to engaged on subsequent 12 months.”

Williams with 4 drivers

The Grove-based outfit was the one staff to run 4 drivers on the Yas Marina Circuit. Full-time drivers Logan Sargeant and Alexander Albon clocked a 1m25.263s and 1m27.824s respectively and racked up a complete of 107 laps.

Williams Young Drivers Zak O’Sullivan and Franco Colapinto shared driving duties in the opposite Williams FW45, ending in P17 and P22 respectively with each drivers having used Pirelli’s C5 compound on their quickest lap.

Commenting on his day, O’Sullivan added: It’s been an fulfilling day. Of course, for me it was good to have the reference from FP1, so I had just a few areas to work on from there. Straight away from the primary push lap I used to be in a position to match my pace from earlier in the week.

“It was good to get some correct consultant operating in additionally in fairly related situations in the center of the day which was good. We acquired by way of sweep of efficiency runs and race runs. I had extra freedom to experiment with issues and push a bit more durable than FP1. Thanks once more to Williams Racing for the chance to drive the FW45 this weekend and supply me with useful expertise.

Speaking about his very first day in a Formula 1 automobile, Colapinto mentioned: It’s been unimaginable to get my first style of a Formula 1 automobile and to do it with Williams Racing. It’s arduous to explain all of the feelings, sensations and emotions I’ve went by way of right this moment. Since I used to be little or no, I’ve been dreaming of this second of someday leaping in a Formula 1 automobile.

“Being in a position to drive the FW45 was an incredible expertise. It’s been a good way to complete my first 12 months as a part of the Williams Racing Driver Academy. I attempted to benefit from each lap and be taught as a lot as attainable. I’m very grateful to everybody one at Williams Racing for giving me this chance and the assist they’ve proven.

Ferrari with a fairly day at Yas Marina

Driving duties fell to the 2 race drivers, who every hung out on the wheel of one of many SF-23s, whereas Robert Shwartzman had sole use of the opposite automobile all day as a part of the Young Driver Test. Between the three of them they accomplished 258 laps: 123 for Robert, 69 for Carlos Sainz in the morning and 66 for Charles Leclerc in the afternoon.

Sainz was the primary to hit the monitor, making an attempt three tyre compounds: the Spaniard began off on the C2, earlier than shifting on to the C5 and at last the C3. His greatest time was a strong 1’24”769 on the C5, the softest compound and it was the quickest time up till the lunch break. In the afternoon, it was Leclerc’ flip, operating the C5, C1 and C4, his greatest time being a 1’25”371.

Shwartzman was behind the wheel of an SF-23 for the third time this 12 months, having beforehand pushed it in free observe in Zandvoort and at Yas Marina final Friday. He ran three compounds, the C4, C3 and C5, his private greatest time being a 1’25”050. However, he needed to abort what would have been his quickest lap when Ayumu Iwasa in the AlphaTauri triggered a crimson flag. Overall, one SF-23 accomplished 125 laps and the opposite, 123, equal to 2 race distances every.

Shwartzman mentioned: “It was a busy day with a variety of operating, throughout which we examined many issues, finishing a complete of 123 laps. Both the staff and I are proud of the way it went and I actually loved driving a Formula 1 automobile over a full day once more. We did some race runs that allowed us to test our pace with the tyre degradation and we undoubtedly gathered useful data.

“At the tip of the day, we additionally did some efficiency runs. Unfortunately, one acquired interrupted by a crimson flag and the opposite one by visitors. The plan now’s to return to Maranello for some simulator work, assist the engineers there earlier than taking a vacation break after a protracted season, in order to return recent subsequent 12 months, which I’m actually wanting ahead to.

Red Bull with out the three-time champion

Deciding towards collaborating in the tyre test, Red Bull accomplished the Pirelli test with Sergio Perez , whereas Oracle Red Bull Racing Reserve Driver, Jake Dennis was in motion in the Young Driver Test. Between them they put in a mixed whole of 241 laps because the double title successful RB19 took to the monitor for the ultimate time.

“It was a very positive day, there was still lots to learn,” began Perez. “It was necessary to place in the time, I drove greater than twice the race distance right this moment and I’m happy with the work now we have finished.

“Especially coming straight out of a race right here, every thing remains to be tremendous recent and the monitor was very consultant, particularly in the afternoon, so it was a productive test. We collected some good data for subsequent season and it’s a good way to complete such a dominant 12 months.”

Following his run in Free Practice 1, reigning Formula E champion Dennis was in the RB19 for the second time: “What an incredible automobile! It was a really big day for me. In FP1 you form of simply bounce in and try to survive, whereas right this moment you possibly can push the boundaries a bit bit extra and actually perceive the automobile.

“And I feel we did simply that. Between Checo and I, we acquired a variety of information for the Team. Obviously, my position right this moment was a bit bit totally different to Checo’s, however from my perspective we’ve acquired a variety of information to take again to the simulator facet and attempt to enhance issues additional for the RB20 and in common growth. I loved each lap on the market, it’s been an amazing day.”

AlphaTauri with three drivers

AlphaTauri shared driving duties amongst three drivers. Race drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda drove in the Tyre Test whereas Ayumu Iwasa participated in the Young Driver Test.

The Australian driver used the C3 compound on his quickest lap to set the twenty third quickest lap whereas his Japanese team-mate clocked the 13rd quickest lap on Pirelli’s C5 compound. F2 driver Iwasa used the softest compound to complete two locations behind Tsunoda after setting his greatest time in the closing levels of the session.

Speaking of his first day in an F1 automobile, Iwasa mentioned: “Thank you to everybody from Red Bull, Scuderia AlphaTauri, and Honda who made right this moment attainable. It was actually unbelievable and superb! The morning programme was designed for me to construct up the pace progressively and never push to the restrict instantly.

“In the afternoon, I used to be in a position to push extra once we began placing on new sets of tyres. Unfortunately, we had a automobile situation earlier than the final push lap of the day that introduced it to an early end. We’re not precisely certain what it was but, so we’ll proceed investigating. I loved the day, gained an enormous quantity of expertise, and learnt a variety of issues concerning the automobile, the monitor, and from the staff. I do know what I learnt right this moment will assist me loads in my future racing.”

Aston Martin full large mileage

After a day of testing in Yas Marina, Aston Martin’s full-time drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll and Reserve Driver Felipe Drugovich clocked in over 200 mixed laps in the AMR23, accumulating loads of significant information to analyse.

Alfa Romeo labored with two drivers through the day. Zhou Guanyu and Theo Pourchaire accomplished the day, clocking in 106 and 96 laps respectively. The Chinese driver used the C4 compound en path to the twenty fourth quickest time whereas the freshly-crown F2 champion set the eleventh quickest lap with Pirelli’s softest compound.

Haas was the one staff to finish the one-day test with out their race drivers. The American outfit ran with Oliver Bearman and Pietro Fittipaldi who accomplished a complete of 240 laps.

McLaren with solely two drivers

Following the sturdy finish to their 2023 F1 season, McLaren determined to finish the one-day test with two drivers. Oscar Piastri acquired behind the wheel of the MCL60 to finish the Tyre Test whereas Patricio O’Ward participated in the Young Driver Test.

The Australian posted a 1m25.930s to set the 18th quickest time, utilizing Pirelli’s softest compound. The Mexican completed the day second quickest with 103 laps accomplished.

O’Ward commented: “I’m actually proud of my day on monitor right this moment. I set to work on a variety of areas with excessive and low gas runs. It was nice to finish plenty of laps on the totally different tyres and it by no means stops to amaze me how succesful these machines are.

“The automobile is simply unbelievable and really fulfilling to drive. Overall, a very optimistic day in Abu Dhabi with the staff. Thank you McLaren for the chance. I’m wanting ahead to getting again in the seat of an F1 automobile once more quickly.”

Mercedes endures tough day

Mercedes endured a tough day at Yas Marina Circuit as George Russell precipitated probably the most notable incident by crashing in Turn 6 4 hours into the session after a suspected technical failure punted the Mercedes driver into the limitations. The incident pressured Russell to sit down out the remainder of the day after finishing 58 laps.

Mercedes junior and F2 runner-up Frederik Vesti took half in the Young Driver Test, finishing the highest three with a 1m24.679s after 106 laps.

Vesti commented: “It was a very big day for me. I acquired to push the W14 to its limits and experiencing the automobile each on excessive and low gas on the finish of the day.

“The team has been incredible. I was also able to learn from George, looking through the data and having him next to me in the garage. I improved consistently through the day and it was great working with the engineers to help me do that. I’m excited to get back to Brackley now and continue my learning in the simulator and the correlation to this test; that will be very interesting.”