Friday also provided an opportunity for new drivers a chance to show what they can do.
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates—Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton had the fastest times for Friday practice in preparation for Sunday’s Formula One’s final event, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with the Dutchman posting the quickest time of the day, 1:25:146, just ahead of Mercedes George Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
For Hamilton, who had the quickest time in the morning session (the only time this weekend when cars will be practicing in the daylight), placed fourth in the afternoon session. Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, took fifth, with the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz in sixth.
Alpine drivers closed in on clinching fourth place in the Constructor’s championship by having Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso (in his final race with the team) placing seventh and eighth, respectively. Daniel Ricciardo, who will test for Red Bull next season, took eighth in his last race for McLaren. Tenth went to Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas.
The morning practice session was a chance for younger drivers to grab the spotlight.
Verstappen gave his car to Liam Lawson while Ferrari made Sainz take his vehicle to Robert Schwartzman. American Logan Sargent replaced Nicholas Latifi in the Williams, who inched closer to securing a drive with the team for next year as a regular. Pietro Fittipaldi subbed for the departing Mick Schumacher at Haas. Pato O’Ward was in place for Lando Norris at McLaren. Jack Doohan subbed for Alonso at Alpine, and Felipe Drugovich replaced Lance Stroll at Aston Martin.
A number of the aforementioned will remain at this circuit for the upcoming post-test, which begins Tuesday. That will also give drivers who are switching teams to drive for their new livery.
Saturday’s qualifying session will be televised by ESNN beginning at 9a U.S. Eastern Time.
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About Mark Gero
Mark began his addiction to Formula 1 racing watching races on the television at Watkins Glen and attending Grand Prix races in person at Long Beach, California in the 1970s and early 80s. Turning to the journalism side of motorsports in 2001, Mark started by writing Grand Prix weekend stories for San Diego, California based All-Sports under Jerry Preeper. He left one year later for E-Sports in Florida. Mark’s big break came when he wrote for the late Mike Hollander at Racing Services. Then, in 2010, he joined Racingnation for three seasons. For the remaining part of this decade, Mark continued to advance, writing articles for the Munich Eye Newspaper in Munich, Germany, and returning to the U.S. to finish his degree in Journalism and Mass Communications at Ashford University. After graduating, Mark was hired by Autoweek before moving on to the racing website, Frontstretch, until late last year. Mark currently lives in Los Angeles, California.
