What went on in Abu Dhabi F1 finale’s first practice

Max Verstappen began Formula 1’s Abu Dhabi title-decider by setting the fastest time in the first free practice session.

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Key moments

– Verstappen fastest
– Hamilton’s best lap deleted, drops to P3
– Drivers tackle redesigned track

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The drivers used FP1 to acquaint themselves with the redesigned Yas Marina Circuit that theoretically will produce better overtaking opportunities and has removed some of the corners that were disliked by drivers in recent years.

Red Bull’s Verstappen set the pace on a 1m25.009s, over 12 seconds clear of his FP1-topping time from 2020.

Lewis Hamilton was just 0.033s slower than Verstappen who he’s tied on points with going into this winner-takes-all finale.

But the Mercedes driver had his laptime deleted for running wide at the final corner. Hamilton also suffered a minor moment at Turn 7 at the end of the long straight as he locked his brakes and ran wide through the run-off.

Hamilton’s laptime deletion promoted his team-mate Valtteri Bottas to second in the times as he starts his final weekend as a Mercedes driver before he switches to Alfa Romeo in 2022.

The second Red Bull of Sergio Perez was fourth-fastest, just 0.008s adrift of Hamilton’s fastest clean effort.

AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda was within three hundredths of the duo as he rounded out the top five.

Fernando Alonso was sixth-fastest for Alpine, which is aiming to clinch fifth place in the constructors’ championship and deny AlphaTauri its long-stated target.

Tsunoda’s team-mate Pierre Gasly was seventh ahead of the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz – the duo devoting some time in the early stages of FP1 to 2022 preparation.

This view 😍@Charles_Leclerc is on helmet cam duty for FP1! 📽️#F1 🇦🇪 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/VHv2rR0k8X

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 10, 2021

The top 10 was rounded by three-time Abu Dhabi Grand Prix winner Sebastian Vettel, who had a late but harmless spin at the penultimate corner.

In his first FP1 appearance of the year, one-time F1 starter Jack Aitken was 0.006s faster than regular Williams driver Nicholas Latifi in 17th place.

 

Practice 1 Results