Driver lineups, first hints for 2026… Everything you need to know about the F1 post-season test in Abu Dhabi

Tomorrow is already today for the Formula 1 As the 2025 season came to a close on Sunday evening, congratulating the 35th world champion in history, in the person of Lando NorrisNow, the work can focus exclusively on preparing for the coming year, without any regrets about potential sacrifices. In every garage, the work has been underway for several months, if not years, but now it's time to gather the first information on the track.

What is the purpose of the F1 post-season test in Abu Dhabi?

In practical terms, although this day of testing is already very important for the ten teams involved (Cadillac is not participating in the sessions due to its non-participation in the 2025 season), the 2026 F1 cars will not be on display. In this instance, the cars used for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are indeed those that the teams are running on Tuesday, albeit with some modifications to simulate the regulatory conditions of the next season as closely as possible.

This method had already been used during this season, notably in the context of private tests organised by Pirelli the day after some Grand Prix. Classic Ferrari for sale For example, they were able to experiment with a prototype movable front wing, in order to anticipate the behavior of the car in anticipation of what will be allowed next year.

This Tuesday, the Mercedes Kimi Antonelli's car is therefore equipped with a system specifically designed for this purpose. It is capable of reacting in the same way as the movable front wing of the car From 2026 onwards, this system allows the Brackley team to anticipate and collect all kinds of data regarding air fluctuations, aerodynamic load, and observable variations during sequences of curves and straights.

Xavi Bonilla / DPPI

Pirelli tires, the main focus of this test

In addition to a few aerodynamic modifications made to the various cars participating in this test day, the teams have the opportunity to run on the Pirelli tire compounds that will be available from the 2026 season. Specifically, each car will be allowed a maximum of one set of C2 tires, three sets of C3 tires, three sets of C4 tires, and three sets of C5 tires. Intermediate tires will also be available in case of rain, although this is quite unlikely in Abu Dhabi.

As a reminder, the tires used next year will still be on 18-inch rims, as has been the case since 2022. However, the tires will be narrower, contributing to a reduction in the car's overall weight. Furthermore, the range will be quite broad in terms of the soft-to-hard compound spectrum. During the various tests carried out by the different teams, not all were very cooperative with Pirelli.

As the Italian manufacturer pointed out, those teams that shared the least information regarding tire wear and outright performance of cars fitted with the new compounds seem to be the most confident about their future position in the hierarchy. That said, they risk Pirelli's work not meeting their actual needs and potentially hindering their performance. In Abu Dhabi, the information will certainly be more readily available.

ALSO READ > Pirelli presents its 2026 tires with an aesthetic change

Which pilots are involved?

To officiate this special test day, the teams are calling upon two distinct categories of drivers. On the one hand, a driver expected to be one of the regular drivers for the 2026 season will be at the wheel of a car modified to simulate the 2026 conditions. On the other hand, a rookie, by definition having no prior Formula 1 experience, will complete this test day driving a 2025 version, without any modifications.

If Racing Bulls, for example, has chosen to field its two future drivers in this way (Liam Lawson in the modified car, and Arvid Lindblad as the rookie), two to three profiles are therefore fielded by the rest of the teams.

McLaren : 🇬🇧 Lando Norris & 🇦🇺 Oscar piastri | 🇲🇽 Pato O'Ward (rookie)
Mercedes: 🇮🇹 Kimi Antonelli | 🇩🇰 Frédéric Vesti (rookie)
Red Bull : 🇫🇷 Isack Hadjar | 🇯🇵 Ayumu Iwasa (rookie)
Ferrari: ???????? Charles Leclerc & 🇬🇧 Lewis Hamilton | 🇸🇪 Dino Beganovic (rookie)
Williams : 🇪🇸 Carlos Sainz & 🇹🇭 Alexander albon | 🇬🇧 Luke Browning (rookie)
Racing Bulls: 🇳🇿Liam Lawson | 🇬🇧 Arvid Lindblad (rookie)
Aston Martin : 🇧🇪 Stoffel Vandoorne | 🇺🇸Jak Crawford (rookie)
Haas : 🇬🇧 Olivier Bearman & 🇫🇷 Esteban Ocon | 🇯🇵 Ryo Hirakawa (rookie)
Sauber: 🇧🇷 Gabriel Bortoleto & 🇩🇪 Nico Hulkenberg | 🇪🇪 Paul Aron (rookie)
Alpine : 🇫🇷 Pierre Gasly | 🇮🇳 Kush Maini (rookie)