F1 results: 2023 Abu Dhabi post-season young driver and tyre test

Thomas Maher 28 Nov 2023 2:22 PM

F1 Testing is underway for the final of action in 2023.

The final day of F1 2023 as a one-day Pirelli tyre and Young Driver test is underway at Yas Marina.

The final day of F1 action in 2023 is in the books, here are the results and times from testing in Abu Dhabi.

All 10 F1 teams have stayed out in Abu Dhabi to take part in a one-day test at the Yas Marina Circuit, to conclude the year’s on-track activities.

The purpose of the track time is to carry out two tests simultaneously. One is the Pirelli tyre test, carried out by the usual race drivers, and the other is the Young Driver test – a car from each team is handed over for track time for a junior driver with two Grands Prix experience or less.

A routine day of testing with one or two hiccups

The session was initially delayed by 25 minutes due to the Medical Helicopter not showing up in time for a 9am green flag, while a water leak under the W Hotel bridge at Turns 13/14 resulted in a further 24-minute stoppage.

All in all, it was otherwise a clockwork morning, with no incidents on track. Carlos Sainz set the pace with a 1:24.799 in his final outing in the Ferrari SF-23, with Sergio Perez some eight-tenths of a second slower.

Oscar Piastri was third for McLaren, a further two-tenths behind.

Of the Young Drivers, Felipe Drugovich set the pace in his Aston Martin as he put in a 1:26.265 to go fourth overall, ahead of Robert Shwartzman in the second Ferrari.

Everyone got some decent lap counts up on the board, aside from new F2 Champion Theo Pourchaire. The French driver could only complete 12 laps before a technical issue on his Alfa Romeo meant he spent most of the morning sitting in the pits.

Elsewhere, George Russell’s day would end rather abruptly after a component caused him to crash out of the session.

A full report on the day’s action can be found here.