Full throttle on Yas

Abu Dhabi: Newly-crowned Formula One World Champion Jenson Button and last year's champion Lewis Hamilton kick-started the Formula One racing action at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit, finishing on top in the first-ever practice sessions Friday only to be upstaged by Heikki Kovalainen in the second session later in the evening.

After the champion duo dominated the first race in broad daylight and the second qualifying session in the unique day-night setting, Kovalainen completed a superb debut for McLaren at Formula One's newest venue with a best lap of 1:41.307.

Earlier Hamilton, who became the youngest world champion in 2008, clocked a fastest lap around the 5.554-km track in 1:41.504.

Brawn's Button, who won the 2009 driver's world championship with his sixth-place finish in Brazil in the previous race, was timed at 1:41.541 as the British drivers dominated the opening practice sessions of the much-awaited start to Formula One action in Abu Dhabi.

Incident-free day

After an incident-free opening day, the inaugural Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is now nicely poised with just one second separating the top 13 drivers ahead of today's run for the pole position.

Making it to the list of top performers Friday was Kamui Kobayashi, the Toyota driver in only his second Grand Prix race, who finished sixth fastest.

Hamilton and Button's display yesterday meant that Abu Dhabi could not have asked for a more befitting start to its association with Formula One after having unveiled one of the most spectacular centres for motor racing on the hitherto-unknown Yas Island, one of the 200 in and around the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Speaking to reporters after his impressive effort, Hamilton said, "It is quite a challenging circuit, difficult to describe. I'm impressed with it and enjoyed driving on it. We are on top now but will have to see what happens tomorrow"

Commenting on the good show by the McLarens, Hamilton said, "I think the car is doing better than it has done all year. We definitely had some good pace."

Looking back at his display so far in the championship, Hamilton said, "It has been a character-building year."

With the man who replaced him as world championship also impressing, Hamilton remarked: "Yes, it will be good to share the podium with him on Sunday. It will be a proud moment."