The Abu Dhabi post-season F1 test is a special but crucial event for the teams held shortly after the final race of the season.

Since 2010, it has been hosted at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, giving teams and drivers a valuable opportunity to gather data and prepare for the upcoming season.

The test is a full-day event, split into morning and afternoon sessions, with teams using this time to run their cars for the last time that year, focusing on testing Pirelli tyres and refining their understanding of the car's performance.

Each team operates two cars: one is allocated to a young driver with no more than two F1 race starts, while the other is used by an experienced driver for tyre testing. Alternatively, teams can split track time between their full-time drivers if they prefer.

This test is especially important for drivers joining new teams (if their old teams have released them early). It gives them a chance to try out their new cars, adjust to the team’s environment, and get comfortable before pre-season testing, which is very limited.

For rookie drivers set to debut in future seasons, this test is one of their few opportunities to experience driving a Formula 1 car. The session helps them become familiar with the advanced machinery and reduces the learning curve before their competitive debut.

Although the test often feels relaxed, it plays a critical role in shaping teams’ and drivers’ preparations for the next season, especially with limited pre-season testing days.