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Formula 1 Abu Dhabi GP

F1 Abu Dhabi GP Live Updates - Friday practice

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Stopwatch
Bottas leads the early times on the 2021 tyres with a 1m37.818s.
Each F1 driver needs to complete at least eight timed laps on these prototype tyres in this session. All 20 drivers are on the track and on said tyres so it is an impromptu tyre test for the first 15 or so minutes.
Green flag
FP2 is go! All of the early runners are on the 2021 prototype test tyres to meet the required running requested by Pirelli.
After his FP1 run Schumacher has handed his future F1 car back to Magnussen, while at Alfa Romeo Kubica has done the same to get Giovinazzi back in action for FP2.
Sun
As the sun dips down into the Yas Marina Circuit skyline, the current air temperature is 24.7C and the track temperature is 31.8C. All rather pleasant.
Anyway, back to the present as there is the final FP2 of the season to look forward to. This is the practice session that matters the most given it offers the same conditions as both qualifying and the race.
We were distracted by a certain beauty doing laps around the Yas Marina Circuit in the break. No, not Alonso, even if he is easy on the eye, we meant the Renault R25. The noise that car produced takes us back to being a kid again.
Information
Good afternoon! Those mid-session breaks really do fly by, as we are already just 10 minutes away from the start of second practice ahead of the Abu Dhabi GP.
Autosport
Here's the report from FP1 - and we'll see you in a couple of hours' time for FP2:

F1 Abu Dhabi: Verstappen fastest in FP1 as Hamilton returns

Max Verstappen set the pace for Red Bull in opening practice for the Formula 1 season finale in Abu Dhabi as Lewis Hamilton returned after recovering from COVID-19

F1 Abu Dhabi: Verstappen fastest in FP1 as Hamilton returns
Checkered flag
And that's it for FP1! Verstappen top from Bottas, with Ocon and Albon third and fourth.
Bottas and Ocon are going for most laps in this session - Bottas on 27, Ocon on 26.
The first practice session of the weekend is winding into the final 10 minutes.
Radio Comms
Albon reports "massive torque holes", so he's not entirely happy with the response from the power unit.
Do we refer to Mick as "Schumacher Jr"? The kids can call him SchuJu.
Albon's had a spin down at turn 13 - but he gets it going once again. Snap of oversteer contrives to pitch him sideways.
Verstappen looked to be on a quicker lap, but lost a tenth or two in the final sector.
A few camera shots of the younglings on the various pitwalls - F2 racers Callum Ilott, Robert Shwartzman and Yuki Tsunoda watch proceedings.
Stopwatch
It's a 1m37.378s for Verstappen to go top once more.
Ocon gets up to P2, replicating his Sakhir race finish. But Verstappen's on a speedy one...
Stroll gets up to P4, slotting in 0.02s behind team-mate Perez.
Radio Comms
"I have loose belts," says Perez. The Butterfield Diet Plan is really working for ol' Checo.
Bottas and Hamilton share greetings on the straight, giving each other a little wave.
Ralf Schumacher's nephew Mick has made his way back on track, on the soft tyre.
Hamilton gets himself up to P6 on the hard tyre, logging a 1m39.958.
We've got Hamilton and Latifi out on the road, as the clock has ticked down into the second half of the session.
Confirmation from Racing Point that Perez will take a fresh engine for this weekend and will receive a grid penalty. Last weekend, Perez proved that being at the back was not too much of an issue...
Information
Fuel pressure problem for Ricciardo, and Renault confirms that he was using a Friday engine.
Here comes the mid-session lull! The first half of practice draws to a close, with limited running - lending credence to the calls for practice sessions to be shorter and less numerous.
Last weekend's winner Perez is now up to P2, 1.1s off of Bottas' best.
Meanwhile, Mercedes confirmed that Hamilton had a brake issue, but the mechanics are sorting it out and the seven-time champion should return to the circuit again soon.
Radio Comms
"I'm oversteering through every single corner," says Norris.
Information
We've had half an hour of this session so far, and the top 10 order is:
1. Bottas, 2. Verstappen, 3. Gasly, 4. Perez, 5. Raikkonen, 6. Sainz, 7. Stroll, 8. Latifi, 9. Ocon, 10. Albon
Stopwatch
But not for long! Bottas posts a 1m37.412s, with a very on-the-limit lap having had a slight slide.
Stopwatch
Verstappen now goes quickest - he logs a 1m39.113s to go top.

By: Jake Boxall-Legge

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