Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Yas Marina, 2024 pre-season test

Pictures: Drivers join new teams and Vesti returns for Mercedes in post-season test

Formula 1

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Esteban Ocon, Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz Jnr have joined their new teams for 2025 as Formula 1 began its post-season test at the Yas Marina circuit.

However one driver who was expected to run today did not drive when the test began. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next year sat out the beginning of the test and the team’s reserve driver Frederik Vesti took over the W15 in his place.

Antonelli, who missed both of last weekend’s Formula 2 races due to illness, is present at the track.

More pictures from the test will be added below.

2024 post-season testing in pictures

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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9 comments on “Pictures: Drivers join new teams and Vesti returns for Mercedes in post-season test”

  1. SPArtacus
    10th December 2024, 9:12

    Paul Aaron will replace Doohan before the 2025 season is over.

    1. SPArtacus
      10th December 2024, 9:14

      Times So Far

      1. Carlos Sainz (Williams), 1m24.435s
      2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 1m24.561s
      3. Lando Norris (McLaren), 1m24.678s
      4. Jack Doohan (Alpine), 1m24.804s
      5. Pato O’Ward (McLaren), 1m25.201s
      6. Antonio Fuoco (Ferrari), 1m25.238s
      7. Gabriel Bortoleto (Ferrari), 1m25.306s
      8. Luke Browning (Williams), 1m25.409s
      9. Paul Aron (Alpine), 1m25.561s
      10. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull), 1m25.568s
      11. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), 1m25.605s
      12. Felipe Drugovich (Aston Martin), 1m25.819s
      13. Liam Lawson (RB), 1m26.016s
      14. Jak Crawford (Aston Martin), 1m26.066s
      15. Ayumu Iwasa (RB), 1m26.251s
      16. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber), 1m26.351s
      17. Fred Vesti (Mercedes), 1m26.680s
      18. George Russell (Mercedes), 1m26.981s
      19. Ryo Hirakawa (Haas), 1m27.526s
      20. Esteban Ocon (Haas), 1m27.903s

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        Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
        10th December 2024, 10:42

        Are you sure that’s Charles?

    2. Profile Photo

      Jere (@jerejj)
      10th December 2024, 12:08

      SPArtacus Again, too early to make definitive conclusions before a single 2025 GP has been completed, or even based on the Abu Dhabi GP, given expectations were realistically non-existent due to short lead time, but next season is another matter with full off-season & pre-season testing preparations.
      Otherwise, we might as well make similar conclusions about Antonelli, Bortoleto, Bearman (despite already showing that he can perform well in F1), & Hadjar (a likely VCARB driver).

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    Jere (@jerejj)
    10th December 2024, 12:10

    Lawson & Hirakawa went on track with inters, which is extremely weird.
    Driving on a fully dry track with inters is something that normally only happens in February Silverstone shakedowns, but never in warm weather conditions.

    1. rprp
      10th December 2024, 13:10

      Possibly 2025-spec inters, and/or to get a ride height/wheel speed assessment?

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        Jere (@jerejj)
        10th December 2024, 13:17

        Viable

  3. Profile Photo

    Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
    10th December 2024, 13:42

    It’s the right colour for a Hulk, but I hope the car looks better next year (it’s not difficult)

    1. Doh
      10th December 2024, 18:47

      It’s hard to see so many black cars with a couple stickers plodded on top

Comments are closed.