Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Free Practice 1: Verstappen opens the Marina event

Here we go! The teams are taking part in their final practice sessions of the season this Friday: an opportunity for many to test parts for next season.

A great debut for Mick Schumacher and the Haas F1 Team, as he finally gets behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car during an official session. After a missed appointment with Alfa Romeo at the Nürburgring due to heavy rain, the new Formula 2 champion takes his first laps on the Yas Marina circuit. He finishes 18th in the session, ahead of his teammate Pietro Fittipaldi, who once again replaces Romain Grosjean.

It’s @SchumacherMick‘s first time out on track for @HaasF1Team ????#AbuDhabiGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/rPeSeBZhWP

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 11, 2020

Even before the half-hour mark of the session, Daniel Ricciardo’s Renault stops at the side of the track, the engine of the diamond-branded single-seater making a noise that doesn’t bode well. End of session due to a fuel pressure problem for Daniel Ricciardo. For many teams, the engines are reaching the end of their lifecycle, compounded by the fatigue of the teams after a long and stressful season.

Penalties announced for Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnussen who will start from the back of the grid this Sunday after numerous engine component changes on their cars.

After thirty minutes of testing

We find a Mercedes in the lead, that of Valtteri Bottas followed by Verstappen and Pierre Gasly.

For his return to the F1 paddock, Lewis Hamilton experienced a difficult start to the session. Indeed, the Mercedes 44 remained stuck in the pits for several minutes to address a brake issue.

Little action on the track, the teams are conducting parts tests for their next season. Indeed, in 2021, parts like the trailing edges of the floor will be shortened, significantly altering the behavior of the cars. That’s why we saw Vettel’s SF1000 fitted with sensors on the rear axle.

During taxi time

Max Verstappen is at the top of the standings (1:37.378), narrowly ahead of Valtteri Bottas (+0.034), the Frenchman Esteban Ocon (+1.137), and Lewis Hamilton (+1.137).

In difficulty for several weeks within the Red Bull team, Alex Albon continues his arduous journey. The Thai driver finds himself far behind his teammate (+3.281), and his attempt on soft tires was spoiled by a spin.

???? Alex Albon ????

He gets his entry into Turn 11 wrong, and he’s sent spinning through 12. But his car is okay and he’s back running#AbuDhabiGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/mk6N4KnMqv

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 11, 2020

Lewis Hamilton returns to the track after being stationary for more than forty minutes. For the moment, the seven-time British world champion still hasn’t sported the famous number 1 on the sides of his car. Traditionally, Mercedes’ number 44 does a few laps with the number 1… For the photos.

The last thirty minutes

Alex Albon moves up in the standings and is in 4th place, 1.1 seconds behind Max Verstappen, who still holds the fastest lap.

Times are no longer evolving; indeed, the teams are focusing on race simulations by completing lap after lap. While Charles Leclerc (12th) is focused on race simulation, Sebastian Vettel, his teammate for the last time this season (15th), seems to still be working on 2021 parts.

Despite the problems encountered by Daniel Ricciardo, Renault seems to be in good shape this weekend (Esteban Ocon in 3rd), just like Racing Point which places its two pink cars in 5th and 6th. On the other hand, McLaren seems to be struggling a bit more, with 11th and 13th place.

The ranking of Free Practice 1