Abu Dhabi: Lewis Hamilton wasted no time to make his mark on the Yas Marina Circuit yesterday, clocking fastest times in both practice sessions ahead of tomorrow’s season-ending finale in Abu Dhabi.
A second place finish is good enough for Hamilton to secure the title, but Mercedes’ dominance over the rest of the field in practice will be a huge shot in the arm for the Briton going into the crucial weekend.
The cars with the famous tri-stars were 1.708s and 1.782s clear of the rest of the field in the both practice sessions and Hamilton will be upbeat about his chances even if teammate Nico Rosberg improves on his pace over the next two days.
After topping the afternoon practice Hamilton carried his strong form into the evening session under lights and posted the fastest lap time of 1:42.113 to finish just eight-hundredths of a second faster than Rosberg.
A visibly pleased looking Hamilton said: "It been a good Friday and the whole session was great. It is exactly the same way every weekend and I must say it was the best car I have driven here. There was no pressure and I was driving the same way I have been.
"It was very exciting to get into the car that has been doing well. It was same as every Friday and you learn about the tyres, where the tyres slow up first, gear selection and stuff, so there is lot of data that we took today."
However, the evening session, proved disappointing for Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who had finished free practice 1 in third spot. Instead of testing both Mercedes drivers, a complete electrical failure left him stranded on the track after just one lap.
McLaren’s Kevin Magnussen clinched third spot as Sebastian Vettel finished fourth despite struggling for a lack of rear grip. Williams’ Valtteri Bottas made up for time lost in the first free practice with a fifth-place finish.
In the first free practice, Hamilton was 0.133 seconds quicker than Rosberg as both traded fastest times a couple of occasions through the session.
Rosberg set the pace by going fastest first, before Hamilton turned the tables. Rosberg again posted the fastest time before Hamilton finally edged ahead with 1:43.476 seconds.
Meanwhile, Frenchman Romain Grosjean was handed a 20-place grid penalty for changing elements of his power unit, although it is learnt the Lotus driver’s punishment may possibly be changed to a time penalty.
According to Formula One rules, a sixth change of any one of the six components comprising the power unit forces the stiff sanction.
