Max Verstappen has wished those battling to become his Red Bull team-mate next season the best of luck going into one final day of track action he will again not be involved in.
The curtain will finally fall on a record-breaking 24 Grands Prix campaign in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Verstappen has already been crowned the drivers' champion for a fourth consecutive year.
The battle to be the constructors' champion, however, is going down to the wire, with McLaren holding a 21-point cushion over Ferrari after an unsavoury ending to the Qatar Grand Prix involving Lando Norris.
On Tuesday, the now regular end-of-season test will take place at the Yas Marina Circuit. Verstappen confirmed to media in Qatar, including RacingNews365, that he will not be taking part. He said: "No, I've skipped that one for a while."
It is a crucial test, however, for many drivers, and it could play a pivotal role in determining who will be Verstappen's team-mate in 2025.
With Sergio Perez's days with Red Bull appearing numbered, it appears to be a straight fight between Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson for the potential vacancy.
After four years with the junior team, now RB, previously AlphaTauri, and due to be known as Racing Bulls next season, Yuki Tsunoda will finally get an opportunity to drive and prove himself in Red Bull machinery.
Verstappen will be monitoring from a distance, adding: "I'm not even going to watch." However, he did conclude by saying: "I wish them good luck.
Most read
In this article
Join the conversation!