ABU DHABI – Esteban Ocon drove the best time during test races at Circuit Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi on the last day of Formula 1 action.
The French driver from Alpine drove 110 laps and clocked 1.24.393 in his fastest lap. The Mexican Patricio O’Ward, from IndyCar, set the second-fastest time in the McLaren car with 1.24.662. The Dane Frederik Vesti, number 2 in Formula 2 this year, was allowed to drive around in the Mercedes. He clocked the third-fastest time (1.24.679).
A total of 25 drivers took action, twelve of whom did not have a permanent seat in Formula 1 this year and got behind the wheel in Abu Dhabi as emerging talent. The race day was mainly intended to test the tires that supplier Pirelli has manufactured for the next season.
World champion Max Verstappen, who won the final race in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, was missing from the test day. Sergio Pérez did drive. He completed 117 laps and recorded the fourth-fastest time in the Red Bull. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) also took action. George Russell caused a delay by crashing in his Mercedes.
