F1 practice LIVE: Max Verstappen fastest in second practice ahead of George Russell and Charles Leclerc
Follow all the build-up to first practice at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton returns to the scene of the toughest moment of his career as the 2022 F1 season concludes with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend.
The Mercedes driver - who has one more shot at preserving his year-on-year win record in Formula 1 - missed out on a record-breaking eighth world title in 2021 in thrilling and controversial circumstances at Yas Marina, as Max Verstappen benefited from a botched safety car and lapped cars procedure to overtake Hamilton on the final lap.
Verstappen has cruised to a second world title this year but comes into the season finale under a dark cloud, after disobeying team orders in not allowing Sergio Perez to pass him in the closing stages of the Brazilian Grand Prix last Sunday.
Perez is level on points with Charles Leclerc in the battle for second place in the World Championship, while Mercedes are just 19 points off Ferrari in the Constructors’ Standings after George Russell led a one-two finish at Interlagos.
Follow F1 updates live with The Independent - FP1 starts at 10am (GMT)
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - FP1
Here come Mercedes! George Russell lands seond on the leaderboard just +0.220 behind teammate Hamilton after his switch to the soft compounds.
It was a quiet session for the team but they’ve stepped it up in the final quarter. Just over 10 minutes to go.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - FP1
Statement made from Lewis Hamilton. His first quick lap on a set of soft tyres fires the seven-time world champion straight to the top of the leaderboard with a 1:26.633.
Hamilton will be eyeing up a victory in Abu Dhabi after George Russell’s success in the W13 last time out.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - FP1
A 1:26.967 from Sergio Perez breaks the 1:27 mark for the first time in the session and the Red Bull moves back into first place. Perez seems to have got a solid grip of things out there and is testing the limits of his tyres ahead of raceday.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - FP1
Alex Albon has joined the party at the top of the leaderboard with a new quickest lap of 1:27.840. The Williams driver has just completed a first run on the soft tyres.
Lewis Hamilton sits eighth around 1.4 seconds behind the leader but his is the fastest lap on hard tyres. Most of the teams are switching to softs though.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - FP1
Jack Doohan’s engine is too hot to get out of the garage and he has to wait to get back out onto the track. A messed up order when starting the car caused the Alpine to overheat.
Yellow flag! Just after his great lap Logan Sargeant has spun off at Turn 1 and runs into the barriers. He manages to get the car moving again and doesn’t seem to have done too much damage.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - FP1
Oh hello. It’s been a solid session for Red Bull’s Liam Lawson but another rookie, Logan Sargeant, has just flown up the leaderboard on a set of soft tyres.
He’s jumped ahead of of Lawson into third.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - FP1
20 minutes into the session and the top of the leaderboard continues to fluctuate between Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc with Red Bull’s Liam Lawson holding steady in third, although he’s headed into the pits.
Esteban Ocon is also out there on a set of soft tyres and looks strong for Alpine.
McLaren and Mercedes are persisting with the hard compounds.
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