Sebastian Vettel was fastest in the first free practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand prix at the Yas Marina Circuit. His time of 1.39.006min was 0.120sec better than the one of Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes). Max Verstappen of Red Bull was third.
Using the same tyre compound as his teammate, Kimi Raikkonen was fourth quickest. He was in front of his compatriot Valtteri Bottas with the second Mercedes.
The weather during the session was hot – 27 degrees of the air and 43 degrees of the circuit. These conditions were far from the ones in which qualifying and the race will take place. That is why the teams used it mostly as 2018 practice, testing different components for next season.
Almost all of the times in FP1 were set with the ultrasoft tyres.
There were some incidents during the session but fortunately, none were too serious.
Mercedes and Haas gathered data on the halo system. They had an aerodynamically improved version as teams are preparing to use it in 2018.
Sebastian Vettel was fastest in the first free practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand prix at the Yas Marina Circuit
Final timing screen for #FP1 at the #AbuDhabiGP ? pic.twitter.com/MB96jnmCgV
— Renault Sport F1 (@RenaultSportF1) November 24, 2017
