Advantage Hamilton in F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix practice

Lewis Hamilton claimed an early advantage over Mercedes team mate and title rival Nico Rosberg on Friday with the fastest lap in practice for Formula One's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Briton, chasing his second title, was quickest in the afternoon and after-dark floodlit sessions at the glittering Yas Marina circuit that hosts Sunday's decisive 'duel in the desert'.

The bragging rights were limited, however, by the slender margin between the two with Hamilton 0.133 faster in the first session and a mere 0.083 in the cooler evening conditions.

He produced his best lap of one minute 42.113 after nightfall.

"I've just got to drive the way I usually do and what will be will be," said Hamilton. "I feel good in the car. Undoubtedly, there is more time to find so I've got to go and chip away at it tonight."

The other drivers waged a familiar battle to be best of the also-rans, but with an even greater gap than usual.

Spaniard Fernando Alonso, preparing for his last race with Ferrari, was third quickest in the opening session but a massive 1.7 seconds off Hamilton's pace.

Hamilton leads Rosberg by 17 points but, with double on offer for the first time, the spectre of mechanical failure hangs over Sunday's race.

The 2008 champion need only finish second, however, to be champion even if Rosberg wins.

Mercedes are also on course for a record 16 wins in a season, having already notched up an unprecedented 11 one-twos.

McLaren's Kevin Magnussen filled third spot in the second session, when Alonso stopped on track without setting a time, but was still 0.782 off the pace.

Quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel, last year's race winner, was fourth fastest in both sessions as he geared up for a farewell to Red Bull before replacing Alonso at Ferrari.

Britain's Jenson Button, maybe facing his last race in Formula One, improved to eighth for McLaren after a troubled first session.

Mercedes-powered Williams, who stopped their cars in the first session after they shed bodywork on track, had a normal second stint with Finland's Valtteri Botttas fifth.

The first session also saw some less familiar names in action, with Britain's Will Stevens slowest as he prepared for a race debut with administrator-run Caterham.

Hong Kong Chinese racer Adderley Fong gained some experience at Sauber.

Second free practice times: 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 1:42.113, 2. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1:42.196, 3. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) McLaren 1:42.895, 4. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull 1:42.959, 5. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams 1:43.070, 6. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull 1:43.183, 7. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:43.489, 8. Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren 1:43.503, 9. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Toro Rosso 1:43.546, 10. Felipe Massa (BRA) Williams 1:43.558, 11. Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India 1:43.746, 12. Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Lotus 1:44.005, 13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) Force India 1:44.068, 14. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA) Toro Rosso 1:44.157, 15. Esteban Gutierrez (MEX) Sauber 1:44.316, 16. Adrian Sutil (GER) Sauber 1:44.763, 17. Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus 1:44.986, 18. Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) Caterham 1:45.505, 20. Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari


First blow

World championship leader Lewis Hamilton struck the first blow over his Mercedes team-mate and only title rival Nico Rosberg in Friday's opening free practice ahead of Sunday's decisive Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

On a hot day of blue skies and a track temperature of 44 degrees, with an air temperature of 28 degrees at the Yas Marina circuit, the two Mercedes men were a class apart from the rest of the field as they began preparations for their 'double jeopardy' duel in the desert.

Hamilton clocked a best lap of one minute and 43.476 seconds to finish quickest by 0.133 seconds ahead of Rosberg, the pair finishing the session more than 1.7 seconds clear of the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso, in his last race weekend with the Italian team.

With just Sunday's race remaining, Hamilton holds a 17 points lead in the title race and must finish second, if Rosberg wins, for him be certain to take the title.

Rosberg, in turn, must finish 18 points ahead of his team-mate to take his first title, a situation that requires him to win or finish second and then hope for Hamilton to suffer a setback.

Alonso's successor at Ferrari, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel was fourth quickest as he began his final Grand Prix with Red Bull, back at the track where they began their cycle of success in 2010.

Behind the outgoing champion, his current Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo was fifth fastest ahead of Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne and his Toro Rosso team-mate Daniil Kvyat, who will join Ricciardo at Red Bull next year.

Valtteri Bottas was eighth fastest for Williams, his team unable to produce their expected pace due to bodywork problems that left them busy with alterations and repairs throughout the session.

His team-mate Felipe Massa managed only seven laps to Bottas' eight and was down in 13th.

Sergio Perez was ninth ahead of his Force India team-mate Nico Hulkenberg.

The two McLarens of Jenson Button, whose future is the subject of much speculation, and Kevin Magnussen, were 17th and 11th respectively on a day when 20 cars were involved with Caterham rejoining the fray after missing the races in the United States and Brazil.

That meant Briton Will Stevens made his Formula One debut, in a Caterham, winding up in 20th place behind team-mate Kamui Kobayashi, who was 18th and Adderley Fong, of Hong Kong, driving for Sauber.

First free practice times: 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 1:43.476, 2. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1:43.609, 3. Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari 1:45.184, 4. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull 1:45.334, 5. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull 1:45.361, 6. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA) Toro Rosso 1:45.718, 7. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Toro Rosso 1:45.835, 8. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams 1:45.913, 9. Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India 1:45.983, 10. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) Force India 1:46.030, 11. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) McLaren 1:46.049, 12. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:46.131, 13. Felipe Massa (BRA) Williams 1:46.549, 14. Esteban Gutierrez (MEX) Sauber 1:46.556, 15. Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Lotus 1:46.711, 17. Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren 1:47.235, 18. Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) Caterham 1:47.971


 

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