F1 Abu Dhabi GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP1
Minute-by-minute updates for FP1 for the 2024 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
The F1 season reaches a climax in Abu Dhabi with McLaren and Ferrari set to battle it out for glory on the constructors' championship.
Off-track, a war of words between Max Verstappen and George Russell has stolen the spotlight from drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, who are either racing with teams for the last time or are making potentially their final appearance in the category.
First practice gets under way at 9:30am GMT.
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And with that, it's time to take a break before second practice begins at 1pm GMT. Until then, here is the full FP1 report, and we will see you again under the lights. Bye!
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
Ferrari already had a significant task to pull back McLaren's 21-point lead in the constructors' battle. Leclerc's penalty turns the considerable hill into a mountain.
“A formation finish for the Leclerc brothers after Ferrari eventually got Charles out. An emotional moment for their family after losing their father in 2017, with Charles acknowledging it’s been hard for the family when they’d had to pause funding Arthur’s career when he was trying to follow in his brother’s footsteps”
Leclerc topped the order but he had to change the battery pack on his car. That means he will take a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday's race. A huge outcome in the constructors' battle.
"Worst car ever and worst traffic preparation ever. Next time, I do my out-lap myself," says Alonso.
A Damning assessment of Aston Martin's current state from the veteran driver.
The final rankings see Leclerc top the order with a 1m24.321s. Norris, Hamilton, Russell and Gasly complete the top five, while Hulkenberg, Colapinto, Magnussen, Drugovich and Perez round out the top 10.
Hadjar was the first driver to take the flag, and now his attentions must turn back to Formula 2, and his championship battle with Gabriel Bortoleto - Hadjar trailing by just 0.5 points heading into the weekend.
Chequered flag!
News on Williams, both Colapinto and Albon will take five-place grid penalties on Sunday with fresh gearboxes being required.
No further action needed in regard to Gasly's failure to slow under yellow flags.
Alonso and Drugovich both on the track at the same time on fresh softs. A positive outcome for the latter, as he goes ninth fastest, 0.03s clear of his session team-mate.
Gasly has now been noted for failing to slow under yellow flags. No mirrors lurking about this time though.
On his first soft tyre run, Charles Leclerc goes to the top. That's an impressive comeback from his earlier reliability issue that has severely restricted his running. A 1m24.321s is the time.
Given his hope that he could be in line for an RB seat next term, trailing an under performing Perez by four places and around half-a-second is not the best marker for Hadjar.
Colapinto, driving for Williams, is in sixth. Could he be entering back into the frame?
With 12 minutes remaining, drivers are leaving the garage for one final run in the session.
That's a rare sight in FP1, Browning has been shown a black-and-white warning flag after he impedes Hadjar for a second time. One more instance and he will see the black flag.
Seeming to stick to the original run plan for data gathering, Charles Leclerc is steadily climbing the order, moving to ninth with his latest effort on medium rubber.
Russell improves to third - behind Norris and Hamilton - with his latest effort. But he trails by 0.623s, signalling that brake issue is still a concern.
Russell is now complaining about the brakes. Even when coming into his pit box, he reports he has no confidence.
On his latest run, Hamilton moves far closer to Norris - this despite a rather sideways moment at Turn 12. The margin is now 0.264s.
A first timed effort for Charles Leclerc! Both brothers are now on the track for Ferrari. It would have been a shame had that not happened in this session.
Reaffirming his strong pace towards the back end of the year, Hulkenberg goes second fastest, although 0.831s off Norris.
But that all changes as Norris completes his first soft tyre run of the session, putting in a 1m24.524s to go 0.868s faster than Russell - also on softs.
Running down the top 10 at the mid-point of the session.
1. Hamilton
2. Russell
3. Perez
4. Norris
5. Magnussen
6. Gasly
7. Hadjar
8. Alonso
9. Colapinto
10. Hulkenberg
Drugovich puts in his first timed effort of the session with a 1m26.914s to go 14th.
Movement in the Ferrari garage as Charles Leclerc puts his helmet on and prepares to join the action alongside his brother.
Mercedes continues to lead the way but now it's Hamilton leading the way, with a 1m25.566s.
Hamilton and Norris will be investigated post-FP1 for the impeding infringement.
“No push laps here, but when they are on it the Alpine drivers are really hanging on with the understeer across the track’s camber here. It’s taking an age for them to get the rotation finished for the ideal exit”
So far, 14 drivers have set times, although Charles Leclerc is the only man yet to take to the track.
But Norris has been relatively unaffected it appears, as he goes to the top with a 1m25.710s.
Replays of the Hamilton-Norris incident show the former dawdling on the racing line into the final corner, preparing for a hot lap as Norris, on a timed effort, stormed up to his gearbox.
As it's an FP1 session only, that is likely to be a fine or a reprimand only, and not a wider penalty.
The first on-track incident of the weekend involves Hamilton and Norris, with an instance of impeding noted by the stewards.
The repair work is continuing on Charles Leclerc's Ferrari and the driver is standing around looking very much like a spare part. This is no longer simply a minor inconvenience.
After 12 minutes of the session, it's probably time to start looking at the time sheets. Russell is top with a 1m25.963s, with Perez second and Bottas third.
A bit of BREAKING NEWS to bring you, as the Chinese Grand Prix has been confirmed on the calendar to 2030 - a five-year extension to the existing deal.
Everything is fine in the cockpit reports Hadjar, "except for my legs touching [the steering wheel]." Not exactly an ideal situation.
“The marshals are ready for any spills at Turn 14 - or wayward mirrors.”
By: Autosport Staff
