Max second quickest in Abu Dhabi opening practice

Published on 29 November 2019 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen kicked of the final Grand Prix weekend of the 2019 Formula 1 season with a second place in the opening practice session. Only Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas was quicker lapping the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The other Silver Arrow, driven by Lewis Hamilton, completed the top three.

As the first practice session is not representative for the remainder of the weekend, it is the only session in daylight, the drivers take their time before clocking a lap. After the usual flurry of installation laps, it is ten minutes before the first times are set.

Max banks his first effort twenty minutes in, resulting in P2. After dropping to fourth, Max retaliates with several quick laps. After forty minutes, when the first set of tyres is returned to Pirelli, Max is second again, behind Hamilton.

When Max hits the track in the second half of FP1, he straightaway improves his lap time on a brand new set of soft tyres. The Dutchman clocks his fastest time of the morning, splitting the two Mercedes. However, this time, Bottas is quickest ahead of Hamilton.

With half an hour to go, Daniel Ricciardo causes a red flag. The Aussie’s power-unit emits a lot of smoke, resulting in a stranded Renault. Fifteen minutes later, the track is clear and the session resumes for the remaining quarter of an hour in which the lap times are not bettered.

In the closing stages, Sebastian Vettel parks his Ferrari into the barriers, causing the final red flag and an end to FP1.

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Results first free practice Abu-dhabi: