Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2020: Formula One drivers hit the road at Yas Marina Circuit

Lewis Hamilton, the Formula One world champion, was finally back on track for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix practice session on Friday. The British Mercedes star almost missed the race due to a positive COVID-19 test in Bahrain, but he recovered in time for the 2020 season finale in the UAE.

Drivers wasted no time to get out on the iconic race, that will ring a number of changes. It looked like legendary driver Robert Kubica's last time on track as he is set to retire after resting for Haas.

Haas also showed a glimpse of the future as they gave young Mick Schumacher - the F2 champion and son of the great Michael Schumacher - the first session.

Max Verstappen set the fastest time of the day session on Friday.

Charles LeClerc will be hoping for a change in fortunes. The Italian marque has struggled all season and LeClerc crashed out of the last race at Sakhir in Bahrain.

Another man making a change is Sebastian Vettel, who will be departing Ferrari after Sunday's race.

As the shadows got longer, drivers started to turn their attention to the twilight second session on Friday, as that will be similar to the race conditions.

With Sunday's showdown beginning shortly before sunset, the second session on Friday will give more accurate information in the cooler temperatures.

And sure enough, as the sun went down, the lap times began to tumble.

Hamilton's Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas set the marker with a 1:362.76 around the Yas track.

However, as Hamilton and the other drivers went for a last push to top the timesheets, Kimi Raikkonen's Alfa Romeo caught fire from an apparent oil leak and there was no time for a last flying lap.