F1 Abu Dhabi GP: Russell and Leclerc dominate the first free practices, Pourchaire and Hadjar at the party

2023-11-25 06:59:05

Here we go for the last weekend of the F1 season. In Abu Dhabi this Friday, George Russell (Mercedes) dominated the first free practice session in 1′26″072 on the Yas Marina track, the last round of the Formula 1 World Championship. A special session since ten drivers were missing on the call including Max Verstappen (Red Bull), assured of the drivers’ title, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari).

And for good reason: the session was an opportunity for the teams to field their young drivers one last time in place of the starters. According to the regulations, F1 teams are required to give the wheel to their youngsters at least twice during the season, as part of the first test session only.

The best placed among the newcomers is Felipe Drugovitch, Brazilian reserve driver for Aston Martin who replaced the Spaniard Fernando Alonso for this session. He finished three tenths behind George Russell in second position ahead of the AlphaTauri of Australian Daniel Ricciardo, 3rd best time. The Finnish Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) and the Canadian Lance Stroll, at the wheel of the second Aston Martin, complete the Top 5.

Big crash for Sainz

On the French side, Pierre Gasly ranks 9th in 1′26″720. Théo Pourchaire, in the race for a first title in Formula 2, took 14th place at the wheel of the Alfa Romeo usually driven by the Chinese Guanyu Zhou. Isack Hadjar had the chance to ride in Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, which he took to 17th position. “I have never had a feeling like this with a car,” reacted the French driver at the microphone of Canal +. For his part, Esteban Ocon, ill this week, was excused from the session and left his seat to the Australian Jack Doohan.

The Frenchman returned for the second free practice session, cut by more than half an hour due to two off-track events by Sainz and Hülkenberg. It was the Monegasque Charles Leclerc who took the lead ahead of the Briton Lando Norris (McLaren) and the Red Bull of the Dutchman Max Verstappen.