The line-up for the one-day test in Abu Dhabi is set to mark the end of F1 2025 by running the 2026 Pirelli compounds.
The one-day test will take place at Yas Marina circuit on Tuesday where Pirelli will run the 2026 compound using the mule car. It will be combined with Young Drivers’ run, as the F1 teams will run two cars simultaneously from early morning – local time – until evening of the day.
The existing 10 teams will take the grid, but Cadillac won’t feature in the test to prepare for its debut F1 season. There will be handful of regulars in action to get the taste of 2026 tyres, with some getting taste of their new teams as well. Isack Hadjar will be the big mover to senior Red Bull team.
As a result, Liam Lawson will headline the Visa Cash App RB entry, with seven featuring either one or both of their regular drivers. Only Aston Martin will not have its regular, with Stoffel Vandoorne getting to run. Among the young gunners, Kush Maini will get his first run with Alpine in the current car.
He has undertook TPC running in the old car, but it will be his first time in the current machinery. With the Indian at Alpine, the team’s reserve Paul Aron will switch to Sauber as Young Driver. The 2026 F1 debutant Arvid Lindblad will also get to drive the Visa Cash App RB car.
Pirelli will supply sets of compounds from C2 to C5 along with the intermediate tyres to test in the mule car, but the C1 and full wets will not be provided. The Young Drivers’ will drive the F1 2025 car using this year’s compounds.
Here’s the line-up –
McLaren: Lando Norris/Oscar Piastri (Pirelli), Pato O’Ward (Young Drivers’)
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc/Lewis Hamilton (Pirelli); Dino Beganovic (Young Drivers’)
Red Bull: Isack Hadjar (Pirelli); Ayumu Iwasa (Young Drivers’)
Mercedes: Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Pirelli); Frederik Vesti (Young Drivers’)
Aston Martin: Stoffel Vandoorne (Pirelli); Jak Crawford (Young Drivers’)
Alpine: Pierre Gasly (Pirelli); Kush Maini (Young Drivers’)
Haas: Esteban Ocon/Oliver Bearman (Pirelli); Ryo Hirakawa (Young Drivers’)
Visa Cash App RB: Liam Lawson (Pirelli); Arvid Lindblad (Young Drivers’)
Williams: Carlos Sainz/Alexander Albon (Pirelli); Luke Browning (Young Drivers’)
Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg/Gabriel Bortoleto (Pirelli); Paul Aron (Young Drivers’)
Other news –
Cadillac shares bits from Valtteri Bottas’ seat fit after his run with Mercedes ended: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSAZ57iDtGC/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/DSArGIfien_/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/DSAwIYSiZVn/?hl=en&img_index=1
