Verstappen tops first Abu Dhabi practice, Hamilton fifth

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen topped the opening practice session for Formula 1’s Abu Dhabi season finale, as the returning Lewis Hamilton placed fifth.

An early problem with his Mercedes W11 meant Hamilton – who is making his comeback after a COVID-19 diagnosis had ruled him out of last weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix – had just a sole set of hard tyres for use in the session, and he ended FP1 1.366s off the pace.

Hamilton’s first run back on the track had ended just after just three laps as high front brake temperatures created “residual brake pressure” that forced him to return to the pits.

"Yeah, something's not right"

"Okay, box, box"

Potentially an early braking issue for Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes – he's in the pits getting it checked out now#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/7zHonO5nIM

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 11, 2020

While his problem was being addressed in the pits, Mercedes team-mate Bottas assumed first place with an early run of hards, and then put in a 1m37.412s benchmark on softs moments after being deposed by a hard-shod Verstappen.

That lap took him an initial 1.7s clear of Verstappen, but the Dutchman closed the gap while still on hards before leapfrogging Bottas on the soft with a 1m37.378s effort, a narrow 0.034s clear of the Finn.

Fresh off his maiden F1 podium in Bahrain, Esteban Ocon was third in FP1 for Renault, but his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo was limited to only three laps.

Ricciardo: "Okay, I have a problem"

He's had to park up his Renault with what initially looks like a throttle issue#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/pVS7DLXMoz

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 11, 2020

Ricciardo encountered a fuel pressure issue on the straight coming up to Turn 8 on what was effectively his first push lap, and was forced to pull over to the side of the track. The retrieval of his RS20 necessitated a virtual safety car, and while Renault made it clear there was no penalty risk as he was using a Friday practice engine that was due to be changed anyway, it did mean his FP1 running was cut badly short.

Verstappen’s team-mate Alexander Albon completed the top four, 1.2s off the Dutchman’s pace. Albon’s first push lap on softs had been compromised by a spin while pitching his RB16 into the Turn 12 right-hander.

🔄 Alex Albon 🔄

He gets his entry into Turn 11 wrong, and he's sent spinning through 12. But his car is okay and he's back running#AbuDhabiGP 🇦🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/mk6N4KnMqv

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 11, 2020

The two Racing Points of Lance Stroll and Sakhir GP winner Sergio Perez slotted in close behind Hamilton in sixth and seventh. Engine component changes for Perez mean he will start his final race for Racing Point from the back of the grid.

Unlike nearly all of their midfield rivals, the two AlphaTauris did not use the soft tyres, yet both still placed in the top 10 – with Daniil Kvyat in eighth place 0.01s quicker than Pierre Gasly.

Kimi Raikkonen completed the top 10 for Alfa Romeo, ahead of the top McLaren of Carlos Sainz Jr and the top Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.

Hamilton’s Sakhir GP stand-in George Russell’s return to Williams was marked with a 16th place, six tenths up on regular team-mate Nicholas Latifi.

Haas’ 2021 signing Mick Schumacher was 18th on his grand prix weekend debut, 3.9s off the pace yet nearly three seconds up on Pietro Fittipaldi – with the Brazilian, serving as stand-in for Romain Grosjean, seemingly fully focused on long runs.

Kevin Magnussen, who yielded his Haas car to Schumacher for FP1, will join Perez at the back of the grid due to power unit component changes.

Practice 1 Results