Hamilton opens Abu Dhabi

On this new Abu Dhabi circuit, the drivers of Formula 1 did not launch into the lead in the first minutes of the session. When the timer starts, however, most drivers set off, but for a simple installation lap. You have to wait more than a quarter of an hour to see a driver set a time, in the person of Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso, 1?55??624). The Spanish driver is trying to tame a track which offers some traps at the end of tight turns. He is joined by his teammate Sébastien Buemi, who quickly takes the best time, lowering the mark to 1:46??773.

Nico Rosberg (Williams) then took the best time (1:46:117), before the mark was successively improved by Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber), Mark Webber (Red Bull), Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), then Lewis Hamilton (McLaren). The Briton kept the best time (1:44:908) for a long time while halfway through the session, the Brawn GP drivers still had not achieved a time.

While trying to do a fast lap, Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button made a mistake, going wide without damaging their car. But after a few laps, Jenson Button showed himself at the front again. The recent world champion achieved the best time (1:44:524), before being dispossessed by Lewis Hamilton (1:44:035). The two Britons engaged in a fine duel at a distance, Jenson Button taking over the reference time (1:44:035), before Lewis Hamilton went under 104 seconds (1:43:939).

His time held up during the last twenty minutes of the session, with no driver managing to improve it. On the wire, Sebastian Vettel climbs to third place, two tenths behind the McLaren driver.

After the afternoon sun, the drivers will be entitled to a second free practice session at 14 p.m. (17 p.m. in Abu Dhabi), where they will be confronted with the conditions of Sunday's race. The Twilight Grand Prix will thus live up to its nickname.