Abu Dhabi Post-Season Test: A New Era Takes the Track
The checkered flag may have fallen on the exhilarating 2024 Formula 1 season, but the action continues in Abu Dhabi with a day of intense post-season testing. All ten teams are aiming to fine-tune their strategies and get a first glimpse into the performance of the 2025 Pirelli tire compounds.
A Day of Two Tests
The test day is meticulously structured, with each team fielding two cars. One car takes to the track for dedicated tire testing, reserved for seasoned drivers holding a super licence. In the other car, a fresh face takes the wheel for the young driver test, designed to provide promising talents with valuable experience on the world stage. To be eligible, a driver must possess fewer than two Grand Prix starts, a regulation that excludes Ollie Bearman, who filled in admirably for Carlos Sainz and Kevin Magnussen during the 2024 season.
With driver contracts shifting and new alliances forming, the test day offers a glimpse into the future of the sport. While some teams have secured releases for their drivers to test for their new teams – including Carlos Sainz preparing for his Williams debut – others, such as Lewis Hamilton stuck in development limbo with Mercedes, are still awaiting their contractually mandated opportunities.
A Look at the Grid
McLaren Racing
Oscar Piastri/Lando Norris
Patricio O’Ward
McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri share the driving duties for the Woking-based squad, pushing the limits of Pirelli’s 2025 compounds. With Piastri’s impressive record of completing every lap of the 2024 season, he could be seen as somewhat less in need of the extra practice, but any chance to gain an edge over the competition in what promises to be a fiercely contested 2025 championship is invaluable.
Joining the duo is Patricio O’Ward, who already has experience with the McLaren MCL60, having participated in FP1 at his home race in Mexico this year. He also gained further insight into Formula 1 machinery during the 2021 young driver test at the Yas Marina circuit.
Should fans expect Pato O’Ward to be competitive in terms of outright pace during the Abu Dhabi test?
**Interviewer:** Welcome back to the show. Joining us today is motorsport analyst, Mark Jenkins, to discuss the abu Dhabi post-season test. Mark, McLaren has a very captivating driver lineup for the test with both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri participating,plus IndyCar star Pato O’Ward?
**Mark Jenkins:** It’s certainly an intriguing combination. You’ve got yoru established Formula 1 drivers in Norris and Piastri, both hungry to gain an advantage heading into 2025. And then you bring in O’Ward, who’s proven himself incredibly talented in IndyCar.
**Interviewer:** Do you think this is just a way for McLaren to give O’Ward a taste of F1, or could there be more to it?
**Mark Jenkins:** That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? McLaren has been vocal about their interest in expanding their driver progress program.
Could O’Ward be a future contender for a seat? Perhaps. It all depends on how he performs in the test and the bigger picture of driver contracts and team strategies. [[1](https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/a63135551/indycar-driver-pato-oward-in-abu-dhabi-f1-test/)])
**Interviewer:** A lot of fans will be watching O’Ward closely. What can we expect to see from him in Abu Dhabi?
**Mark Jenkins:** I think O’Ward will be looking to impress.He’ll want to show he can adapt quickly to the car and the demands of Formula 1.
Keep in mind, this is a test environment, so the focus is on data collection and development rather than outright speed. But O’Ward has the talent to make a statement.
