Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel opened the final round of the 2017 campaign on top as he clocked the quickest time during the first practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Vettel registered a lap of 1:39.006 to beat Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton by 0.120s, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen close behind in third, as all bar the Renault drivers clocked their best laps on Ultrasofts.
Ferrari’s Kimi Räikkönen wad fourth fastest, ahead of Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas, as the leading teams all ran through their programmes with little interruption.
Force India’s Sergio Pérez was sixth, ahead of McLaren duo Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne, preparing for the outfit’s final event with power unit partner Honda.
Williams’ Felipe Massa, contesting his final Grand Prix, was ninth, as Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo had a low-key session, finishing substantially adrift of team-mate Verstappen, as he rounded out the top 10.
Mercedes-backed GP3 champion George Russell took 11th position on his second outing with Force India, making only a brief excursion under braking for Turn 17.
Haas’ Romain Grosjean was 12th and lightly touched the barriers after spinning through Turn 19, though was able to recover his VF-17 to the pit lane untroubled.
Williams’ Lance Stroll moved up to 13th spot during the closing stages, ahead of Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly, with Carlos Sainz Jr. and Nico Hülkenberg split by Sauber’s Pascal Wehrlein.
Hülkenberg spun through Turn 14, while Haas tester Antonio Giovinazzi was another to rotate his car after suffering a rear lock-up into Turn 17, en route to 18th overall.
Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson and Toro Rosso’s Brendon Hartley, facing another engine penalty, completed the order in typically hot and sunny conditions at Yas Marina.
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