The double champion leads the second free session of the Abu Dhabi GP, ahead of Russell and Leclerc
Sainz has placed sixth provisionally, with the Alpine of Ocon and Alonso as the best of the ‘rest’
Abu Dhabi will put the finishing touch to the 2022 Formula 1 season this Sunday. And as an ‘aperitif’ of the weekend, max verstappen (Red Bull) has been the fastest after the first two free practice sessions on Friday. Mercedes has dominated the first, atypical with almost half of the grid made up of young drivers, and which has left out, among others, Alonso, Sainz and the two-time champion, who has given his RB18 to liam lawson. The New Zealander more than fulfilled, placing fifth, barely 2 tenths behind Sergio Perez. The second round, already known to all the headlines on the track and at night, like the race on Sunday, has returned to the usual trend, with Verstappen in front, notably lowering the morning times, with a better lap of 1’25″135 , as soon as you have mounted soft tires.
Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez They arrive tied in points (290) to the last race. The Monegasque, who started the season as a candidate for the title and outstanding leader of the championship after the first appointments on the calendar due to reliability problems with Red Bull, reaches the end without having secured the runner-up spot. Whoever finishes ahead of the other on Sunday will achieve the goal. And if the order of these two free riders is maintained, Leclerc is the one who seems to have the best pace. The Monegasque finished Friday in third position, preceded by George Russell, that last week gave Mercedes the first victory of the season. Hamilton, who refuses to end a season for the first time without a win in his locker, has led FP1 and has completed the day in fourth place, 6 tenths behind Verstappen.
Pérez has completed the ‘top five’, with Sainz in sixth provisional position and the two Alpine de Ocon and Alonso as the best of the ‘rest’, in seventh and eighth place. Fernando, who says goodbye to his team in Abu Dhabi and next Tuesday will begin his adventure with Aston Martin in the tests to be held at Yas Marina, has another duel with his teammate with ‘morbo’. Ocon has been ahead of the Spaniard all year, who despite exhibiting a high level of driving, has been weighed down by countless reliability and strategy problems on his side of the box. Both arrive separated by five points in the general classification and it is evident that Alonso will do everything possible to surpass the Frenchman in the final table. The French team needs the points from both drivers to shore up its fourth team place against McLaren.