Abu Dhabi test: Ferrari finish 2022 on top as Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri make F1 team debuts

Carlos Sainz leads one-two-three ahead of Charles Leclerc and young driver Robert Shwartzman in Abu Dhabi post-season test; Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton also in action, while Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly, Nico Hulkenberg and Oscar Piastri make debuts for new teams

Carlos Sainz led Ferrari to a one-two-three in the Abu Dhabi test

Ferrari finished the final track day of Formula 1 2022 on top as Carlos Sainz led a one-two-three in the Abu Dhabi post-season test, which saw a number of drivers – including Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri – debut for their new teams.

The one-day test – held two days after Yas Marina’s season-ending race – was largely a tyre test for Pirelli’s new 2023 compounds, while all 10 teams were also required to test young drivers in their second cars.

That led to a jam-packed timesheet, with 24 drivers in action over the day, and Ferrari even locked out the top three positions.

Fernando Alonso drove an Aston Martin car without sponsors

Sainz set the pace in the afternoon with a 1:25.2, a time that was 1.4s down on Max Verstappen’s pole lap for the weekend, ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc, who drove the F1-75 in the opening session. Ferrari development driver Robert Shwartzman was third, just 0.017s off Leclerc.

Lewis Hamilton drove his Mercedes W13 car for the first time

Max Verstappen was back in the Red Bull after his second title-winning season

Verstappen was also in action fresh off claiming his record-extending 15th win of his second title-winning campaign, finishing fifth in his dominant Red Bull, as was Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes W13 car he admitted over the weekend he can’t wait to see the back of.

Hamilton split the day with George Russell (23rd) and finished 17th, with Mercedes junior Frederik Vesti 22nd.

The final day of F1 2022, though, was mainly notable for the drivers making fresh starts with new teams.

Oscar Piastri brought out red flags in the morning session after his McLaren stopped on track

Nico Hulkenberg is returning to F1 with Haas in 2023

Alonso was the headline act as he drove in a – sponsor-less because of his Alpine contract – Aston Martin, while Pierre Gasly also debuted for Alpine, Nico Hulkenberg for Haas, Nyck de Vries for AlphaTauri and Piastri for McLaren.

Gasly was the fastest non-Ferrari driver of the day in fourth.

Piastri, meanwhile, who caused a summer stir with his infamous move from Alpine to McLaren, caused a red flag in the morning session after grinding to a halt in his McLaren.

Logan Sargeant, who on Monday have his 2023 drive with Williams confirmed, was also in action at Yas Marina.

New signing Pierre Gasly in Alpine’s 2022 car

“It was a very nice experience,” said Alonso, the 41-year-old two-time world champion who has signed a multi-season deal at Aston Martin. “I feel honoured to drive for such an iconic brand.

“It was a very special day having a first go in the car.”

The driver replacing him at Alpine, Gasly, added: “It was a very good adaptation.. obviously it feels very different. There was quite a lot to discover.

“In my mind I’m already starting the 2023 season with this work.”

What’s next?

This is the last time the drivers will hit the track in 2022, although there is still the small matter of Verstappen being officially crowned at the FIA Awards gala this week.

F1 2023 will start in earnest with launch season – usually at the beginning of February – before pre-season testing takes place in Bahrain on February 23-25.

The campaign then officially begins the following weekend with the Bahrain Grand Prix at the same Sakhir track on March 5.