Bottas still ahead in EL2 despite a collision with Grosjean

Disagreement? Incomprehension ? End of season fatigue? 

Touches between drivers are rare enough in free practice for us to wonder. As he caught up with the Haas de Romain Grosjean but was still at a good distance from the Frenchman, Valtteri Bottas placed himself on the inside of turn 11 to try to overtake his rival. 

What followed was an unfortunate and avoidable contact, Grosjean having taken his usual trajectory. The Frenchman ended up with a damaged flat bottom and had to cut his session short, while the Finn's front wing did not emerge unscathed from the impact either. 

Grosjean immediately protested on the radio, while Bottas defended himself by saying that the Haas driver had simply closed the door on him. We still have the impression that the 2019 runner-up of Lewis Hamilton threw himself a bit at the last minute but the bad reputation from which Grosjean unfortunately suffers in the paddock is enough to make him guilty in the eyes of some observers. 

Valtteri Bottas thought he had room to overtake on the inside

Romain Grosjean disagreed#AbuDhabiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/5Jk7vt6urk

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 29, 2019

Before that, Bottas, who will have to start from the back of the grid on Sunday having taken on new engine elements, had led at full speed and set a convincing time of 1'36''256 to beat Hamilton by 0''310. 

Behind the Silver Arrows, we find the two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc et Sebastian Vettel, followed by both Red Bull de Max Verstappen et Alexander albon. Note that the Monegasque of Team got a little scare when he hugged the wall a little too closely at the exit of turn 19, where his teammate had spun at the start of the afternoon. 

 Charles Leclerc hits the barriers on the exit of Turn 19

He is forced to box – the Ferraris are struggling with the left-hander#AbuDhabiGP  #F1 pic.twitter.com/H3ytiQY4I2

- Formula 1 (@ F1) November 29, 2019

irony of history, the “best of the rest” place goes to Grosjean, who was already 6th in EL1, a sign that the Haas are advancing on a lap at Yas Marina. The indestructible Sergio Pérez finished in 8th place for Racing Point, while the Toro Rosso by Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly complete the Top 10 of the most representative free session before the last qualifying and race of the season. 

The McLaren finish at the gates of the first half of the table, Carlos Sainz before Lando Norris, and do better than the single-seaters from the factory team Renault. For what could be his last Grand Prix weekend, Nico Hulkenberg must be satisfied with the 15th time, ahead Daniel Ricciardo, who received a new engine after an oil leak in FP1. Alfa Romeo and Williams bring up the rear.

FP2 CLASSIFICATION

A mixed session for Valtteri Bottas, who set the fastest time but collided with Romain Grosjean at Turn 11#AbuDhabiGP  #F1 pic.twitter.com/DF0VQQOZxJ

- Formula 1 (@ F1) November 29, 2019