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Valtteri Bottas drove the best moment of the day in the Mercedes. World champion Lewis Hamilton was second in the second practice and lost 0.203 seconds to his teammate Bottas. Hamilton’s fastest lap, which would have been enough to set the fastest time, was canceled on Friday because he ended up straying too far from the track.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who was the fastest in the first practice session, was almost eight tenths behind Finn Bottas in third place. Shortly before the end of the second session, there was a break of approximately ten minutes at the Yas Marina circuit. Kimi Räikkönen’s Alfa Romeo had to park alongside the runway and shut down after catching fire.
Future number 47 is moving
Mick Schumacher also caused tension in the first practice session, where the 21-year-old German finished in 18th place. Schumacher got into his future employer Haas’s car for the first time and took over the car from Dane Kevin Magnussen. Schumacher drove 23 laps and made no mistakes. “It’s a long-standing dream that is now coming true for me,” he said later. Starting in 2021, Michael Schumacher’s son will be the regular driver for the US racing team.
“It was exciting to be on the track with everyone,” he said. In the future he will start with the number 47, at the premiere the 50 was still in his race car. “The first time in a Formula 1 car is difficult, but he did a great job,” said team boss Günther Steiner.
“It is much faster”
Formula 2 champion Schumacher was driving the car of current regular driver Magnussen. You must collect data, know the processes, and work on various tasks. “I’m sure I won’t get bored that easily,” he said, also making a difference to his previous vehicle: “Of course, it’s much faster now.”
Schumacher should have completed an official training session for Alfa Romeo at the Nürburgring, but bad weather prevented it in October. There were no such problems in the sun around the Abu Dhabi marina. The other driver who had a lot of eyes on was the world champion. It was not certain for a long time if Hamilton could be there at the end of the season or if his Covid 19 disease would prolong the forced hiatus.
Hamilton returns and Russell returns to the end of the field
The world champion only received permission to fly from Manama in Bahrain, where the Briton had missed the Grand Prix a week ago, and to enter the paddock on Thursday afternoon. With the return of Hamilton, George Russell’s hopes of a second substitute were dashed.
Hamilton’s young compatriot had to return to his traditional employer, Williams, a week after his highly acclaimed debut at Mercedes, everyday life had returned for him. In his defeated car, Russell desperately followed behind and only finished 18th.
Sachir’s winner has to come back
In addition to Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, two other drivers have to back off on the starting grid for Sunday’s race (2.10pm, live on ORF1 and on the live broadcast, the broadcast begins at 1.30pm). Sachir winner Sergio Pérez at Racing Point and Magnussen at Haas will face the last race of the season from behind due to the exchange of engine components that exceed the allowed contingent.
Leclerc was prosecuted by the stewards last Sunday for causing the collision with Pérez at the Sachir Grand Prix. The Monegasse in the Ferrari falls three positions.
