Free Practice 2: A McLaren duo already at the top in Abu Dhabi

After McLaren’s strong performances this morning, the silver arrows confirmed this afternoon by securing a double in Free Practice 2 ahead of the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Heikki Kovalainen set the fastest time this Friday under the eastern sunset. He was ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton and the reigning world champion Jenson Button. Kamui Kobayashi, Glock’s replacement at Toyota, impressed while Renault and Ferrari sank to the back of the standings.

The drivers were on track for the first time simultaneously with the sunset in Abu Dhabi. Free Practice 2 started illuminated by the setting sun of the United Arab Emirates and ended with the help of hundreds of spotlights surrounding the Yas Marina Circuit.

McLaren, with the help first of Kovalainen then of Hamilton, dominated the session. It was only at the end of the session that the rankings were set, with Kovalainen ahead of Hamilton and Button. Vettel and Webber also contested the top spots throughout the session before Buemi and then Kobayashi broke into the top 5. Kubica could have also claimed a good position, but the Polish driver broke his engine after 40 minutes of practice.

The Japanese Kobayashi is therefore 5th, far ahead of his teammate at Toyota, Trulli. He posted good lap times on a track where no one knew the layout or the settings. Buemi is 6th, with a series of very good laps to his credit. Neither Webber (Red Bull, 7th) nor Barrichello (Brawn GP, 8th) managed to catch up with the two men; however, the gaps were very small. Rosberg and Räikkönen are also in the top 10.

The session was repeatedly disrupted by yellow and red flags. Hamilton went off track without damage twice at the same spot, while Sutil narrowly avoided the wall due to brake issues. The German already had problems this morning and lost another 35 minutes this afternoon for the same reason. He eventually returned to the track to secure 11th place.

Kubica also had big problems. The Polish driver completed only 13 laps in this second practice session. He broke his engine, which had already been used three times in Grand Prix races, after 40 minutes and couldn’t return to the track. He is last. His teammate Nick Heidfeld finished the session in 13th place, behind Nakajima and ahead of Trulli’s Toyota. Liuzzi is 15th in the second Force India, two tenths ahead of Alonso and the first Renault in the standings. Grosjean is less than three tenths behind his teammate, trailing Fisichella (on Ferrari) and ahead of Alguersuari, another rookie.

Free Practice 2 Results – Abu Dhabi GP – Friday, October 30, 2009: