The Abu Dhabi F1 test concluded with a surprising result as American rookie Jak Crawford claimed the fastest time during the 2025 post-season testing session at Yas Marina Circuit. Driving for Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team, Crawford posted a lap of 1:23.766, establishing himself at the top of a competitive field that included both established race drivers and emerging talent.
Crawford Edges Out Competition in Tightly-Contested Session
Crawford’s performance put him 0.081 seconds ahead of Paul Aron, who was testing for Sauber, while Williams’ Luke Browning finished third, just 0.154 seconds off the American’s pace. This narrow margin between the top three drivers highlighted the competitive nature of the session and the quality of machinery provided to rookie runners.
The result marked a significant moment for Crawford, who maximized his 119 laps to extract the ultimate performance from his Aston Martin machine. His ability to consistently push the limits while gathering valuable data impressed observers and demonstrated his readiness for potential future opportunities in Formula 1.
Here’s how the full top-25 for Test 1 looked:
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time / Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jak Crawford | Aston Martin | 1:23.766 | 119 |
| 2 | Paul Aron | Sauber | 1:23.847 (+0.081) | 126 |
| 3 | Luke Browning | Williams | 1:23.920 (+0.154) | 129 |
| 4 | Frederik Vesti | Mercedes | 1:24.568 (+0.802) | 145 |
| 5 | Ayumu Iwasa | Red Bull | 1:24.925 (+1.159) | 121 |
| 6 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes (mule-car) | 1:25.170 (+1.404) | 157 |
| 7 | Pato O’Ward | McLaren | 1:25.418 (+1.652) | 127 |
| 8 | Ryo Hirakawa | Haas | 1:25.463 (+1.697) | 121 |
| 9 | Dino Beganovic | Ferrari | 1:25.720 (+1.954) | 122 |
| 10 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:26.099 (+2.333) | 85 |
| 11 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:26.138 (+2.372) | 73 |
| 12 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:26.142 (+2.376) | 71 |
| 13 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1:26.289 (+2.523) | 92 |
| 14 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:26.417 (+2.651) | 75 |
| 15 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:26.454 (+2.688) | 76 |
| 16 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:26.505 (+2.739) | 141 |
| 17 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 1:26.519 (+2.753) | 138 |
| 18 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | 1:26.767 (+3.001) | 78 |
| 19 | Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber | 1:27.004 (+3.238) | 76 |
| 20 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:27.433 (+3.667) | 141 |
| 21 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | 1:27.515 (+3.749) | 111 |
| 22 | Kush Maini | Alpine | 1:27.544 (+3.778) | 128 |
| 23 | Stoffel Vandoorne | Aston Martin | 1:27.743 (+3.977) | 108 |
| 24 | Ollie Bearman | Haas | 1:27.827 (+4.061) | 80 |
| 25 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:31.407 (+7.641) | 4 |
Understanding the Dual Purpose of Post-Season Testing
While Crawford’s headline-grabbing time captured attention, the session served a much broader purpose than simply determining who could set the fastest lap. The test was fundamentally designed to prepare teams for the 2026 season, which will introduce significant regulatory changes affecting aerodynamics, tire specifications, and overall car performance.
Teams split their testing programs between two distinct objectives:
2026 Development Work: Regular race drivers operated mule-cars fitted with modified aerodynamic packages and prototype Pirelli tires designed for next season. These vehicles ran with reduced downforce levels to simulate the expected conditions under new technical regulations.
Rookie Evaluation: Younger drivers, reserves, and prospects received seat time in current-specification 2025 cars. This allowed teams to assess emerging talent under known conditions while fulfilling their obligation to provide testing opportunities for less experienced drivers.
This dual-purpose approach means that direct comparisons between lap times require careful context. Crawford’s fastest time came in a 2025-spec car, while many established drivers were gathering data in deliberately compromised mule-cars.
Mercedes’ Antonelli Leads 2026-Spec Development
Among drivers testing next year’s concepts, Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes emerged as the pacesetter. The young Italian completed an impressive 157 laps—more than any other participant—while posting a best time of 1:25.170 in his mule-car configuration.
Antonelli’s lap time was 1.404 seconds slower than Crawford’s benchmark, but this performance gap reflects the expected characteristics of 2026 regulations rather than driver capability. The reduced downforce and different tire compounds resulted in consistently slower lap times across all mule-car runners.
The extensive mileage completed by Antonelli provided Mercedes with a wealth of data on tire degradation patterns, aerodynamic behavior, and setup optimization for the upcoming regulatory era. This information will prove invaluable as teams begin developing their actual 2026 challengers.
Full Session Results and Notable Performances
The 25-driver field showcased a diverse mix of experience levels and testing objectives:
Top Rookie Performers: Beyond Crawford and Aron, Frederik Vesti (Mercedes) finished fourth overall with a 1:24.568, while Red Bull’s Ayumu Iwasa rounded out the top five at 1:24.925.
Established Stars: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari, 1:26.138), Lando Norris (McLaren, 1:26.142), and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari, 1:26.417) all completed meaningful running in mule-car configurations, prioritizing data collection over outright speed.
IndyCar Representation: Pato O’Ward’s seventh-place finish for McLaren (1:25.418) demonstrated strong adaptation to Formula 1 machinery during his limited running.
The lap count statistics revealed serious work being conducted across the field. Frederik Vesti logged 145 laps, Liam Lawson completed 141 for Racing Bulls, and Pierre Gasly matched that total for Alpine—all indicating comprehensive test programs rather than brief demonstration runs.
Pirelli’s Critical Role in 2026 Tire Development
Pirelli used this session as a crucial validation point for their 2026 tire compounds. The Italian manufacturer has been tasked with creating rubber that functions effectively with significantly reduced aerodynamic load—a challenging engineering problem that could fundamentally alter race strategy and car balance.
According to Pirelli representatives, the test provided essential feedback on grip levels, thermal degradation characteristics, and structural integrity under the new loading patterns. Teams and the tire supplier worked collaboratively to identify any potential issues before the 2026 season begins in earnest.
The extensive running completed by multiple teams across varied fuel loads and stint lengths gave Pirelli confidence in their development direction while highlighting areas requiring further refinement before homologation.
What These Results Mean for Future Grid Positions
Crawford’s dominant performance will not go unnoticed in Formula 1 paddocks. While testing times don’t guarantee race seats, consistently strong showings during official sessions help build a compelling case for promotion opportunities.
The American driver joins a competitive pool of young talent seeking full-time seats as contracts expire and teams reassess their lineups. His performance at Yas Marina Circuit adds another data point to his growing resume, which includes strong showings in junior categories.
Similarly, Paul Aron’s second-place finish for Sauber and Luke Browning’s third for Williams demonstrated that multiple rookies are ready to step up if opportunities arise. Teams planning their 2026 driver lineups now have recent, relevant data to inform their decisions.
Analyzing the Performance Gap Between Specifications
The approximately 1.4-second deficit between the fastest 2025-spec car and the quickest 2026 mule-car provides insight into the expected performance characteristics of next season’s regulations. This gap stems from multiple factors:
Reduced Downforce: The 2026 regulations mandate lower aerodynamic load, decreasing cornering speeds and overall grip levels.
Modified Tire Construction: Pirelli’s new compounds must function without the extreme aerodynamic assistance currently available, requiring different thermal and mechanical properties.
Weight Distribution Changes: Mule-cars adapted existing chassis to approximate 2026 characteristics, potentially creating handling compromises not present in purpose-built machinery.
Teams will use this baseline performance differential to project development timelines and establish realistic targets for their actual 2026 challengers. The data collected helps answer crucial questions about setup philosophy, suspension geometry, and aerodynamic approach.
Strategic Implications for Team Development
The testing session revealed distinct approaches among teams regarding their 2026 preparation. Mercedes’ decision to have Antonelli complete 157 laps suggests an aggressive data-gathering strategy, potentially providing them with the most comprehensive dataset entering the new era.
Other teams balanced mule-car development work with rookie evaluation programs, suggesting confidence in their simulation capabilities or perhaps a belief that the mule-cars provided limited representative data for actual 2026 machines.
Teams with strong rookie showings (Aston Martin, Sauber, Williams) now face interesting decisions about whether to provide additional testing opportunities or retain their established lineups. The quality of young talent available has never been higher, creating genuine competition for grid positions.
Looking Ahead to Pre-Season Testing
When official pre-season testing commences for 2026, the data from Yas Marina Circuit will serve as a crucial reference point. Engineers will compare tire degradation rates, lap time evolution, and aerodynamic behavior between the mule-cars and purpose-built 2026 challengers.
Rookies who excelled during this session may receive additional opportunities during winter testing, particularly if teams want to evaluate multiple driver options before finalizing contracts. Crawford’s performance certainly positions him favorably for future consideration.
The tire performance data will be especially scrutinized, as any significant deviations from what Pirelli observed during this test could necessitate rapid compound adjustments before the season begins.
Conclusion: A Session That Transcends Simple Lap Times
While Jak Crawford tops Abu Dhabi F1 test results make for compelling headlines, the real story lies in the comprehensive preparation work completed by teams, drivers, and Pirelli. This session represented a bridge between the current regulatory era and the significant changes arriving in 2026.
For rookies like Crawford, Aron, and Browning, the test provided a platform to demonstrate their capabilities under pressure with professional stakes attached. For established teams and drivers, it offered invaluable data that will inform development decisions over the coming months.
As Formula 1 enters a new technical era, sessions like this one at Yas Marina Circuit prove that testing remains far more than a formality—it’s an essential component of competitive preparation and talent evaluation that shapes the sport’s future.