Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Max Verstappen on top in opening practice session
Max Verstappen clocked a best lap time in one minute and 38.491 seconds as the Red Bulls delivered its speed in the closing stages.
Published : Nov 23, 2018 18:50 IST
Max Verstappen topped the times ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo in Friday's opening practice ahead of this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Dutchman, who appeared certain to win the Brazilian race two weeks ago before colliding with Esteban Ocon's Force India, clocked a best lap time in one minute and 38.491 seconds as the Red Bulls delivered its speed in the closing stages.
Verstappen was more than four-tenths of a second clear of Renault-bound Australian Ricciardo.
Valtteri Bottas was third ahead of his Mercedes team-mate new five-time champion Lewis Hamilton, the man who profited and triumphed in Brazil, but Bottas was a full second adrift of Verstappen's lap.
Hamilton, who finished with engine troubles in Brazil, was granted permission to change his car number from 44 to 1 for this final race of the year and also wore a gold helmet.
Frenchman Ocon, who is unlikely to be in Formula One next season, was fifth ahead of Kevin Magnussen of Haas, Sauber-bound Kimi Raikkonen in his final race with Ferrari and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel in the second Ferrari.
Carlos Sainz of Renault and Romain Grosjean of Haas were ninth and 10th while two-time champion Fernando Alonso began his final weekend before retirement by winding up 19th for McLaren ahead of Robert Kubica, in his role as Williams' reserve driver on Friday ahead of his switch to racing for the team next year.
Times in first practice session: 1. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Renault) 1min 38.491sec 2. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull-Renault) 1:38.945 3.Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1:39.452 4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:39.543 5. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Racing Point Force India-Mercedes) 1:40.102 6. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1:40.235 7. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 1:40.417 8. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:40.453 9. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Renault) 1:40.588 10. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari) 1:40.663 11. Pierre Gasly (FRA/Toro Rosso-Honda) 1:40.671 12. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) 1:41.023 13. Sergio Perez (MEX/Racing Point Force India-Mercedes) 1:41.075, 14. Brendon Hartley (NZL/Toro Rosso-Honda) 1:41.137 15. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) 1:41.493 16. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Sauber-Ferrari) 1:41.662 17. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber-Ferrari) 1:41.928 18. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren-Renault) 1:42.114 19. Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren-Renault) 1:42.313 20. Robert Kubica (POL/Williams-Mercedes) 1:42.992 |