F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Practice

3 weeks ago 30th Oct 12:29

Formula 1 the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix practice sessions

Lewis Hamilton in his McLaren put in the fastest lap time during first practice.for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after getting the better of world champion elect Brawn's Jenson Button.

The two Englishmen swopped fastest times for four consecutive laps before Hamilton finally triumphed with a time of one minute 43.939 seconds just 0.096secs ahead of Button on the dusty Abu Dhabi track.

All drivers,struggled on the brand new track Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel was third quickest after his late hot lap, with Button's team-mate Rubens Barrichello grabbing fourth fastest time of the session.

Vettel reported on Red Bull team radio early in the session that track conditions were "very, very dirty and dusty with very low grip off the racing line".

Several drivers left the track as they pushed hard to find ways of saving lap time including Button at one point around Turn 18 and 19, losing his rear and spinning where the track passes under the Yas Hotel. Williams's Nico Rosberg and Red Bull's Mark Webber also ran into trouble at exactly the same spot.

Just moments after Buttons spin Barrichello did well to avoid a similar fate, just managing control his car as the back end tried to slid away.

Friday's practice sessions are rarely reliable indicators of race pace as teams normally use the 90-minute run-outs to plan their race strategies.

But Abu Dhabi's opening session bucked that trend as cars poured onto the circuit to get a proper first look at the challenges of the 3.5-mile Yas Marina circuit.

Get behind the wheel with Lewis Hamilton as he gives the 'Inside Track' ahead of the final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, where he also reflects on his strong finish to the season and returning to home comforts after a grueling Formula 1 schedule.