Pirelli’s extensive 2017 tyre test programme came to an end at the Yas Marina Circuit with Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.
It was the first time all three modified 2015 ‘mule’ cars had taken to the track at the same time during tyre testing for next year.
Lewis Hamilton completed a few laps early on Tuesday but he felt unwell and pulled out, being replaced for the remainder of the running by Pascal Wehrlein.
Kimi Raikkonen drove for Ferrari throughout the final day of tyre testing, with Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo sharing Red Bull duties.
Development work on the range of wider 2017 tyre compounds resumed and 331 laps were completed by the three teams in total.
96 different prototype tyres were tested by Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull as the teams tried out different specifications.
“For the final test of the year, we had five F1 race drivers sample our 2017 prototypes as we completed the development programme with three cars at the same time,” said Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery.
“Now the hard work begins as we collate and analyse the results of our 24 days and approximately 12,000 kilometres of testing in order to define the tyres with which we will go racing next year.
“These will then be run on the actual 2017 cars for the first time during the official group tests next February.
“Our latest test in Abu Dhabi went according to plan and we were able to collect the data we needed thanks to the three mule cars from Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari; without whom it would have been impossible to carry out this intense development programme.”
