Friday Practice Report
Abu Dhabi GP
The Formula One circus arrived at Abu Dhabi for its inaugural race and the finale for the 2009 season amid great expectations today. There can be no question that the circuit and its facilities are world class, but it remains to be seen whether it can capture the special atmosphere of the more traditional venues. Anyway after the first session got underway and the dust was cleared from the track it was McLaren's Lewis Hamilton who posted the fastest lap time in the opening session, with newly crowned World Drivers champion Jenson Button second. In the final session of the day it was Heikki Kovalainen clear at the top of the timesheets this time with Hamilton in second place and almost 0.2s adrift. Jenson Button eased down into third place just ahead of Sebastian Vettel in the first of the Red Bull cars. Kamui Kobayashi was an impressive fifth fastest for Toyota with Sebastian Buemi closing out the top six. Mark Webber was down in seventh with Brawn's Rubens Barrichello eighth. Nico Rosberg and Kimi Raikkonen closed out the top ten. Despite the new circuit no driver managed to damage his car although several did spin harmlessly. Robert Kubica was the main casualty of the day suffering an engine failure in his BMW Sauber.
