George Russell led the way in the first practice hour at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, setting the pace ahead of Aston Martin’s impressive reserve driver Felipe Drugovich and Daniel Ricciardo.
In unrepresentative conditions to what the drivers will face in qualifying and the race, Russell set the pace from start to finishing before ending up with a time of 1m 16.072s on the soft tyre.
FP1: Russell fastest in rookie-filled opening Abu Dhabi GP practice
His nearest challenger was Drugovich – one of 10 rookies taking part in FP1 – who was 0.288s off Russell’s time, with Ricciardo in third. Valtteri Bottas was fourth quickest ahead of the other Aston Martin of Lance Stroll and the McLaren of Oscar Piastri.
Ferrari pair Carlos Sainz and Robert Shwartzman – deputising for Charles Leclerc in the session – were seventh and eighth, ahead of the Alpine of Pierre Gasly, and the second AlphaTauri of Yuki Tsunoda.
There were eight other rookies taking part in the session with Frederik Vesti, Jack Doohan, Theo Pourchaire, Patricio O’Ward, Jake Dennis, Isack Hadjar, Zak O’Sullivan, and Oliver Bearman all getting a run out.
Click on the video player above to relive the action from the first practice hour in Abu Dhabi.
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