Sebastian Vettel ends the day on top in Abu Dhabi

After having dispossessed Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) for the best time in the middle of the day on the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) retained the honorary best time of the first day of Pirelli tire testing, with a view to the next season.

The German, who should give way to Charles Leclerc tomorrow, concludes with the same reference in 1'36″812, four tenths ahead of the Finn from the reigning world champion team, and with hyper-soft tires. Bottas also set his best time on hyper-softs, but with the 2019 version of Pirelli tires (see ranking below, where the name Compound 5 corresponds to the new nomenclature of the Italian manufacturer).

Entering action for the first time in Racing Point Force India colours, without having yet been confirmed for 2019, Lance stroll climbs to third place 1″097 behind Vettel, preceding Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing). The Dutchman should be replaced by Pierre Gasly Wednesday.

Sergio Pérez (Racing Point Force India), in action this morning, appears in fifth position and is ahead Lando Norris (McLaren) and Nico Hulkenberg (Renault). Slowed down this morning by a mechanical problem on his Haas VF-18, Pietro Fittipaldi was able to string together laps in the afternoon to finish in eighth place with 56 laps completed.

The young Brazilian ranks ahead Robert Kubica (Williams), author of 32 laps, and a better time than his future teammate George Russell, seen this morning in the FW41. Kimi Räikkönen (Sauber), who was forced to stop at turn 7 at the end of the session, and Sean Gelael (Toro Rosso), who will be replaced tomorrow by Daniil Kvyat, bring up the rear.

Photos of the tests can be viewed via the link at the end of the article.

>>>>> Photos from Pirelli Abu Dhabi Testing 2018 <<<<