Russell Dominates in Abu Dhabi GP's Rookie-Heavy FP1

George Russell // Photo: Mercedes Media Archive

In the first free practice session (FP1) for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Mercedes driver George Russell showcased his skills by topping the time charts.

This session, held on a Friday afternoon, was notable for its focus on rookie drivers, with many regular racers stepping aside to provide these newcomers with essential track time.

According to Formula 1's regulations, teams are mandated to allow drivers with no more than two Grand Prix starts to participate in at least two FP1 sessions throughout the season. In compliance, all teams except AlphaTauri chose the Yas Marina Circuit event to fulfill this requirement. This decision led to an unusual scenario where Red Bull Racing's usual drivers, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, did not participate. Instead, Jake Dennis, the Formula E champion and Red Bull's simulator driver, made his debut in the weekend's F1 activities. Isack Hadjar, a Formula 2 (F2) racer, represented AlphaTauri, continuing from his appearance in Mexico.

Ferrari's reserve driver, Robert Shwartzman, returned to the track for the team, while Mercedes welcomed F2 contender Frederik Vesti. Alpine's Jack Doohan accumulated more F1 experience, and Pato O'Ward, the IndyCar sensation, took the wheel for McLaren, preparing for his 2024 reserve role. The practice session also included Oliver Bearman from F2 with Haas, Theo Pourchaire leading the F2 championship with Alfa Romeo, Felipe Drugovich as Aston Martin reserve, and Zak O’Sullivan, the F3 championship runner-up, affiliated with Williams.

Frederik Vesti // Photo: Mercedes Media Archive

The diverse experience levels of drivers led to varying strategies during the 60-minute session. The period was marked by continuous lap time improvements, interspersed with minor incidents like lock-ups and off-track excursions as drivers grew more accustomed to their cars.

Russell finished the session with the fastest time of 1m 26.072s, using Pirelli's soft compound tires. He was closely followed by the impressive rookie Felipe Drugovich, Daniel Ricciardo in his AlphaTauri, and Valtteri Bottas in an Alfa Romeo.

Other notable performances included Lance Stroll and Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz, and Shwartzman, who impressively matched Sainz despite a scare in his Ferrari. Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda also showcased strong performances.

One of the session's highlights involved a near-miss between Jack Doohan and Logan Sargeant, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of a rookie-heavy session. The Red Bull rookies, Dennis and Hadjar, were closely matched, with Williams' O’Sullivan and the Haas drivers, Kevin Magnussen and Bearman, completing the lineup.

With the first practice session offering a mix of seasoned skill and fresh talent, teams and drivers now prepare for the second practice session, keen to build on the insights gained at the Yas Marina Circuit.