Max quickest in Abu Dhabi FP1

Published on 23 November 2018 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen started the final Grand Prix weekend of the 2018 Formula World Championship well by being quickest around the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team mate Daniel Ricciardo was second ahead of Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas.

At the start of the session, a couple of cars look different; Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes sports number 1 instead of the reigning champion’s regular number 44. Fernando Alonso, who will leave the sport after 18 years, is running a special livery on his McLaren in honour of his career and last race.

As usual, a couple of regular drivers make way in FP1 for a few Friday morning drivers. Today, Robert Kubica hops in Sergey Sirotkin’s Williams, whilst Antonio Giovinazzi occupies Charles Leclerc’s Sauber.

Not many drivers opt to go out at the start of the session as the track conditions will not be close to race conditions; FP1 is run in daylight, whereas the race will start in the evening and finish in nightly conditions.

When some drivers do appear on track, Max soon sets the pace. The Dutchman utilizes the fastest compound Pirelli made available (hyper-softs) to go quickest.

At the halfway mark, Marcus Ericsson is responsible for the only crash of the morning. The Swede spins on the exit of turn one, damaging his Sauber’s front wing. Nevertheless, he is able to drive the car back to the team.

In the second part of the session, Max continues his impressive form on the hypersofts, bettering his time to a 1:38.491. With Mercedes and Ferrari opting to run the super-softs, both Red Bulls set the pace throughout practice.

In the closing stages, nobody betters their earlier times as the focus switches to long runs. It means Red Bull Racing end FP1 at the top of the leaderboards with Max setting the quickest time of the morning.

Abu Dhabi GP contest: win a by Max signed 1:43 RBR scale model!

Results first free practice Abu-dhabi: