ABU DHABI POST-SEASON TEST

Feb 4
1 min read

The curtain came down on the Formula 1 season with the traditional post-season test at Yas Marina, offering teams and drivers one final day of running before the winter break.

Pierre Gasly was back on track for Alpine, adding valuable mileage as preparations quietly begin for 2026. The session provided an opportunity to refine direction, validate data and close the year with meaningful track time — an important step in maintaining continuity heading into the off-season.

Across the paddock, attention also turned to the next generation. Isack Hadjar made his first outing in Red Bull Racing colours, marking a notable moment in his progression. Getting acclimatised to a new environment, understanding procedures and building early rapport with engineers are all part of these initial steps, and Abu Dhabi offered the right setting to begin that integration.

For Kush Maini, the day represented another milestone: his first official Formula 1 session with Alpine. Taking part in the post-season test allowed him to experience the demands of an F1 programme in a full team environment, adding important track exposure at the highest level of the sport.

While lap times in Abu Dhabi rarely tell the full story, the test consistently serves its purpose — closing one chapter while laying the foundations for the next. For Gasly, Hadjar and Maini, it was a productive end to the year and a measured step toward what comes next.