Sainz and Alonso, fifth and sixth times in the Abu Dhabi test

Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) scored the fifth and sixth times within Formula One post-season test which took place this Tuesday at Abu Dhabi Yas Marina Circuit, where Mexicans Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) – recently declared world runner-up – and Patricio O’Ward (McLaren) registered fourth and second, respectively, on the time table, led by Frenchman. Esteban Ocon (Alpine).

In the best of his 110 laps, Or with covered 5,281 meters of track in the capital of the Arab Emirates in one minute, 24 seconds and 393 thousandths, 269​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​less than ‘Pato’ O’Ward, who gave 103 and last Friday participated in the first free practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the last World Cup, which he won – for third. consecutive years – Dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull).

Verstappenwhich on Sunday raised its own all-time record for wins in a season to 19, I’m not joining in the test that definitively closes the course, where up to 25 drivers race, including many testers and aspiring future debutants in the main category. A test session in which two Mexicans registered in the best four.

‘Checo’, 33 years old, who – with two victories, in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan – came second in the World Cup, where he was part of the so far best team in history – 21 wins in 22 races – became 117 times and in his best attempt stopped the stopwatch at one minute, 24 seconds and 715 thousandths.

The Mexican improved his time by 36 thousandths Sainzwhich achieved this season, in Singapore, the only victory that the very dominant Austrian team did not score. “It was a positive day, there are still many things to learn. Today I rode the race distance twice and I’m happy with the work we did,” explained the brave pilot from Guadalajara after the test day at Yas Marina.

“Especially, coming from a race that was just held here, everything is still quite fresh and the track condition is quite representative, especially in the afternoon, so it’s a productive test. We have gathered good information for next year; and it’s a great way to end a dominant season,” commented ‘Checo’ after marking the fourth time of the test, where he entered the table one place ahead of Sainz.

The 29-year-old driver from Madrid, who finished seventh in the World Championship, repeated the Yas Marina layout 69 times, in a test where the Danish Fred Testi, who also rode in the first free practice on Friday in Abu Dhabi, marking the third time (1:24.679) with Mercedes.

Alonso, in the second youth at the age of 42 – who, with eight podiums in his first season with Aston Martin, finished fourth in the World Championship – said goodbye to another season of honor with 37 laps of the Yas Marina circuit, where the rookies tried To add as many laps as possible, the teams tested the adjustments and Pirelli – the sole supplier of the contest -, tires. In his best lap, Alonso stopped the clock at one minute, 24 seconds and 827 thousandths, four tenths off the fastest time of the day.

The Monegasque Charles Leclercthe teammate of Sainz at Ferrari, set the tenth time (1:25.371) of a day in which he repeated the Abu Dhabi track 66 times, where the Canadian Lance Stroll, a colleague of the brilliant Asturian driver at Aston Martin – that in The best of his fifty laps was marked by a time of 1:26.681 – he registered twenty-first in the classification.

Japanese people Yuki Tsunoda (Alph Tauri) – who Alonso overtook in the closing laps of Sunday’s race to finish seventh and thus take fourth place in the championship – completed 59 laps and set his best time at one minute, 25 seconds and 570 thousand; while the Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – the best rookie of the season just ended, where he finished ninth -, who repeated the United Arab Emirates track 123 times (1:25.930), was registered eighteenth in the time table .