Max Verstappen started the weekend in Abu Dhabi well. With a time of 1:25.009, he was the fastest in the first free practice at the Yas Marina Circuit. Teammate Sergio Perez set the fourth-fastest time, while the Mercedes managed to settle for second and third.
Valtteri Bottas had to concede two tenths to Verstappen's time, while Hamilton had to settle for P3. In the spots behind the top teams, Yuki Tsunoda takes a handsome fifth spot. Behind him, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Vettel complete the top-ten.