Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Motorsport
Motorsport
Sport

Sainz fastest for Williams after morning in Abu Dhabi F1 test

Carlos Sainz has topped the morning hours of Formula 1's 2024 post-season Abu Dhabi test for his new Williams team.

After getting his install laps out of the way during a private filming session on Monday, Sainz officially kicked off his Williams stint by taking the wheel of the FW46 during Tuesday's post-season test, where teams are helping Pirelli test its 2025 tyre compounds.

Dressed in full white overalls and a plain white helmet, Sainz was one of several drivers to scoot out of the pitlane at the 9am kick-off time, and he ended the morning hours on top with a 1m24.435s and 60 laps completed.

Sainz headed Ferrari's Charles Leclerc (72 laps) and McLaren driver Lando Norris (78 laps), who will hand his MCL38 to team-mate Oscar Piastri in the afternoon.

Jack Doohan continued his 2025 preparation with another day aboard the Alpine, and was fourth-fastest ahead of Mercedes reserve Frederik Vesti.

McLaren's IndyCar star Pato O'Ward was also found in the top 10 alongside Ferrari development driver Antonio Fuoco, Williams junior Luke Browning and Alpine's latest reserve driver signing Paul Aron.

Alongside Sainz, several other 2024 regulars made their official debuts for their new teams. After sitting out the season finale for Alpine, Esteban Ocon made his appearance in Abu Dhabi for Haas, clocking 46 laps.

Ocon replaces Nico Hulkenberg, who got his first laps on the board for his new Sauber outfit and completed 63 laps.

At the behest of Honda, Yuki Tsunoda finally got the opportunity to sample a Red Bull F1 car, with Racing Bulls team-mate Liam Lawson still expecting to get the nod over the Japanese driver to move up to the main team should Sergio Perez be dropped.

The session occurred without notable incidents thus far, registering just an innocuous spin for Norris coming out of Turn 14.

As well as Piastri, Arthur Leclerc is joining the test in the afternoon to take over Fuoco's Ferrari. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who has been unwell over the past few days, is expected to take the wheel of the second Mercedes driven by Vesti in the morning hours.

Photos from the Abu Dhabi Test

Jak Crawford, Aston Martin AMR24, makes a pitstop

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Ryo Hirakawa, Haas F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Mechanics push Felipe Drugovich, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Driver number on the car of Carlos Sainz, Williams FW46

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Gabriel Bortoleto, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Ayumu Iwasa, RB F1 Team RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Carlos Sainz, Williams FW46

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Jak Crawford, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Pato O'Ward, McLaren MCL38

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Esteban Ocon, Haas VF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Carlos Sainz, Williams FW46

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Ryo Hirakawa, Haas F1 Team, with his engineer

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Esteban Ocon, Haas VF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Nico Hulkenberg, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Felipe Drugovich, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Nico Hulkenberg, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Gabriel Bortoleto, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Gabriel Bortoleto, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, talks with Mattia Binotto, COO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Felipe Drugovich, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Ayumu Iwasa, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Paul Aron, Alpine A524

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Carlos Sainz, Williams FW46

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Pato O'Ward, McLaren F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Antonio Fuoco, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Carlos Sainz, Williams FW46

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Nico Hulkenberg, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Esteban Ocon, Haas VF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Gabriel Bortoleto, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Arthur Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Pato O'Ward, McLaren MCL38

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Arthur Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Carlos Sainz, Williams FW46

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Arthur Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Paul Aron, Alpine A524

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Carlos Sainz, Williams FW46

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Felipe Drugovich, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Jak Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Gabriel Bortoleto, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Antonio Fuoco, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Ayumu Iwasa, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Jack Doohan, Alpine A524

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Pato O'Ward, McLaren MCL38

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Nico Hulkenberg, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Pato O'Ward, McLaren MCL38

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24

2024 Abu Dhabi Post-Season Testing

Formula 1
66

Results after the first four hours:

Pos Driver Team Lap
1 Carlos Sainz Williams 1m24.435s
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1m24.561s
3 Lando Norris McLaren 1m24.678s
4 Jack Doohan Alpine 1m24.730s
5 Frederik Vesti Mercedes 1m25.159s
6 Pato O'Ward McLaren 1m25.201s
7 Antonio Fuoco Ferrari 1m25.238s
8 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber 1m25.306s
9 Luke Browning Williams 1m25.409s
10 Paul Aron Alpine 1m25.561s
11 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull 1m25.568s
12 Isack Hadjar Red Bull 1m25.605s
13 Felipe Drugovich Aston Martin 1m25.819s
14 Liam Lawson RB 1m26.016s
15 Jak Crawford Aston Martin 1m26.066s
16 Ayumu Iwasa RB 1m26.251s
17 Nico Hulkenberg Sauber 1m26.351s
18 George Russell Mercedes 1m26.981s
19 Ryo Hirakawa Haas 1m27.526s
20 Esteban Ocon Haas 1m27.903s
In this article
Filip Cleeren
Formula 1
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time news email updates on these topics
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.