Free Practice 1: Hamilton takes the lead over the Brawn drivers and Vettel

Lewis Hamilton on McLaren finishes the first practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as the fastest driver. It was quite an entertaining battle with the 2008 world champion engaging with the new world champion, Jenson Button (Brawn GP), who occupies the second position. The duo saw Sebastian Vettel for Red Bull closing in at the end of the session. The German is third ahead of Button’s teammate, Rubens Barrichello.

Rubens Barrichello is therefore fourth, but less than three-tenths separate the top four. Nick Heidfeld finished in fifth position for the BMW team ahead of Sébastien Buemi for Scuderia Toro Rosso. Adrian Sutil (Force India) is seventh, after enduring a gearbox problem for most of the session. Mark Webber (Red Bull), Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso), and Jarno Trulli (Toyota) complete the top ten. There are thus seven teams in the top ten places. Only Renault, Ferrari, and Williams are much further behind.

Unsurprisingly, the new Yas Marina track was covered in dust at the start of the session, despite the organizers’ best efforts over the past few days. Thus, only Alguersuari’s Toro Rosso, followed by Sébastien Buemi’s, and newcomers Kamui Kobayashi and Romain Grosjean, did many laps in the first 30 minutes.

Indeed, it was necessary to wait until the mid-session of the first 90 minutes of practice for the big guns to hit the track, like Vettel who set a time of 1:45.372, placing him ahead of his teammate Webber. A few minutes later, Hamilton indicated his intentions for this race weekend and lowered the mark with a 1:44.908.

It is from this moment that the drivers begin to find the limits of the circuit by going wide at certain corners. It is no surprise, the tires suffer in Abu Dhabi, located at the gateway to the desert. The session, which took place at 2 p.m. (local time), experienced very high temperatures (34°C in the air and between 40°C and 45°C on the track) and a very low humidity rate.

Then it was Webber’s turn to take command with a solid time of 1:44.805, suggesting that the Yas Marina circuit might favor the Red Bulls. But that’s not counting on the Brawns, which remained discreet in the middle of the pack until the 70th minute. With no pressure to win the world championship, Button made a strong impact with a 1:44.524.

This leads to a showdown between world champions and between English drivers. Hamilton and Button each deliver some of the fastest laps. The number 1 spot keeps switching between the McLaren driver and the Brawn driver. Ultimately, it’s Hamilton who has the final say with a 1.43.939.

Several drivers had difficulty acclimating to this new track. Button was one of many drivers caught out at turn 19, just after the tunnel under the hotel. Kobayashi, only 19th, also went wide after the pit straight. However, all the drivers remarkably finished this first session. No damage to the cars despite the proximity to the obstacles on this new track.

The top 10 being known, we find the other BMW driver, Robert Kubica, in 11th position followed by the other McLaren driver, Heikki Kovalainen in 12th. Then, the two Williams drivers with Nico Rosberg, who is leaving the team after this race, ahead of his soon-to-be ex-teammate, Kazuki Nakajima. Kimi Räikkönen and Giancarlo Fisichella for Scuderia Ferrari only manage 15th and 18th places. They are separated by Fernando Alonso (Renault) and Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India). The Frenchman Romain Grosjean is in last place.

Free Practice 1 Results – Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, October 30, 2009: