© Getty Images2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Free Practice ReportA day of data gathering for the Bulls on day one of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
MaxVerstappenandSergioPérezstruggledtofindthespeedinthecarsinFreePracticeonFridayatthefinalraceoftheseason.MaxsteppedasideinFP1forIsackHadjar,whofinishedhisthirdeversessionFormulaOneinP14.
When Max returned to the car for the later session he was struggling with grip, understeer and an issue with his front axle, finishing the session in P17. Checo also struggled to hit the pace of his rivals and finished the days sessions in P10 and P14 respectively.
There were a lot of fresh faces in Free Practice One as six rookies took to the track for FP1. For Oracle Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar stepped into Max’s RB20 for the opening hour. Isack has a lot to do this weekend as he is in the title fight for the Formula 2 Championship alongside his taste of F1 machinery today.
FP1 for Isack Hadjar© Getty Images
Isack was out on track early with a set of soft tyres strapped the car. For the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the C5 – the softest tyre in the range – is being used as the soft tyres. The French-Algerian driver had a scare on his opening push lap as he spun, but avoided contact with any curbs or barriers. He went on to complete two push laps, with a time of 1:28.267 placing him P10 at that point, 2.304s behind George Russell who was top. Isack radioed to say he was struggling with clearance of the steering wheel and that it was hitting his legs, but aside from that, he looked comfortable in the RB20.
Checo joined the action on the yellow-walled medium tyres and completed three push laps, his final flyer was 1:26.179, placing him in P4. After the 20 drivers had completed their first stints, Lewis Hamilton was top with a time of 1:23.566. Russell was in second, with Lando Norris in P3, Checo in fourth and Isack was in P14 at that point.
When the Bulls returned to the action, they were both on fresh soft tyres. Both put in two push laps. Checo’s time of 1:25.483 placed him in P6, 0.941s away from the fastest time, which had now been set by Lando Norris. Isack’s fastest time was 1:25.577, placing him P8. The Red Bull rookie was eager to keep going, but was called back into the pits to work on some setup changes.
The Bulls finished the opening session of the weekend with some high-fuel laps. Both drivers completed eight timed laps, Checo’s were on the mediums and Isack completed his on the used softs.
At the chequered flag, Charles Leclerc had muscled his way to the top with a time of 1:24.321. Norris was second with Hamilton in P3. Sergio finished FP1 in P10, 1.162s behind Leclerc and Isack finished in P15 after completing 22 laps in total, he was 1.556s away from P1.
What A Track© Getty Images
Max returned to the cockpit for Free Practice Two and left the garage on the medium tyres. After his first push lap, he radioed to the Team about suffering from understeer and a lack of power. He pitted for a flap adjustment and went out again. He improved on his time, setting a 1:25.265, placing him P5, 0.933s behind Norris who was top again. After then saying to the Team that there was a problem with the front axle, Max returned for another flap adjustment before completing one more push lap. He improved with a time of 1:24.958, but it kept him in P5.
Checo also began the session on medium tyres and completed two push laps. His best time was 1:25.381, placing him in P10. He found himself 1.049s behind Norris’ time. When all cars had finished their first stint of the session, Norris was top with a 1:24.332. Charles Leclerc was in second and Carlos Sainz third. Max was still in P5 and Checo had dropped to P11.
Birds Eye View© Getty Images
Both Max and Checo came out on track with soft tyres for one quali-sim lap each. Checo crossed the timing line first with a 1:24.765, moving him up to P4 at that point. Max’s time of 1:24.598 placed him P6. The Bulls then finished their session with more race-simulation, with Max completing eleven high-fuel laps, and Checo nine.
Lando Norris improved his time, stopping the clock at 1:23.517. His teammate Oscar Piastri finished second and Nico Hulkenberg was third. Checo finished the day in P14, he was 1.038s behind Norris and Max was in 17th, 1.081s off the fastest time of the day.
