Pirelli tests in Abu Dhabi as a preview of 2025: Ocon debuts with Haas, Hulkenberg free to join Sauber. Heading towards the 2025 Pirelli tests in Abu Dhabi.

Heading towards the 2025 Pirelli tests in Abu Dhabi
It will be the last day of school for the 2024 championship, but also a tasty preview of what we might see next season. The Pirelli tests in Abu Dhabi, scheduled at the Yas Marina Circuit on Tuesday, December 10, will already feature some key figures of the 2025 championship in new roles. Among these are Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon, who have been granted clearance from Haas and Alpine, respectively, to hit the track with their new teams (Sauber and, indeed, Haas).

Esteban Ocon with Haas
The news was confirmed by the team principal of the small American outfit, Ayao Komatsu. The Japanese engineer, who took over the pit wall position from Gunther Steiner at the beginning of this season, announced that the team would field Ocon during the post-season tests in Abu Dhabi: “This will be the first time we have Esteban in our car, which is important because the regulations will remain stable, and therefore next year’s car will be an evolution of the current one. So it’s beneficial for him to get a feel for it as soon as possible, to understand how it performs on the track, as well as its strengths and weaknesses. Based on his feedback, we can continue working on the development of the next car.” – he pointed out.

Oliver Bearman “blocked” by the regulations
The decision to field Esteban Ocon in the 2025 Pirelli tests also effectively frees up Nico Hulkenberg to join Sauber, where he will drive next season while awaiting Audi’s arrival. “As far as I’m concerned,” Ayao Komatsu added, “Nico can already take to the track with Sauber. We have no reason to hold him back.” However, the situation is different for Oliver Bearman: having raced in the Brazilian GP as a replacement for the unavailable Kevin Magnussen, the young Briton lost his rookie status (which can only be retained by those who have competed in fewer than three GPs). This means the 19-year-old will not be able to participate in the December 10 test, where teams are required to field a rookie driver.