Video: initial training in Abu Dhabi is over! Räikkönen crashed, how did Hamilton and Verstappen do?

The race weekend is underway in Abu Dhabi. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have one win each, but you can also watch Kimi Räikkönen’s nasty crash on Friday, December 10.

Racing has been going on in the United Arab Emirates, specifically Abu Dhabi, since 2009. However, the circuit was modified for this year, so the teams had a lot to study in the first free practice sessions.

As a result of these somewhat more extensive modifications, the track has become shorter and therefore faster, which was confirmed in our first practice session. It was won by Max Verstappen, who set a time 12.3 seconds faster than his fastest time in last year’s first practice.

In both the first and second practice sessions we witnessed several off-track excursions and minor contacts. This is how Esteban Ocon had to steer his Alpine, in turn 14.

Hamilton had his fastest attempt in FP1 wiped out due to exceeding the track limits at Turn 16. He therefore finished third behind Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas.

However, the second practice session had already brought two contacts with the wall and one crash. At turn 13, Nicholas Latifi failed to steer his Williams and came to a stop against the wall. However, the damage to his monoposto was not dramatic.

Hamilton’s stablemate Bottas then met the wall with his right rear wheel at the incriminating turn 14. However, the damage to the car was more than minimal.

However, a more serious crash was witnessed at the end of FP2. At Turn 14, Finn Räikkönen failed to control his car and crashed his Alfa Romeo into the wall. Anyway, here we have to talk about more extensive damage.

The Formula 1 legend crashed like that even after the FP2 time limit had expired. Unfortunately, his Alfa Romeo went into an oversteer skid, which happens when a driver gives more throttle than the tyres can handle in a corner.

Räikkönen then became a mere passenger and was unable to correct the direction of his monoposto.

However, Hamilton dominated the second act, with a very respectable result from Ocon to finish second. Third place was held by Bottas and only Verstappen was fourth in the standings at the end of FP2.

Sergio Pérez is fifth in the final FP2 standings, Fernando Alonso sixth, Júki Cunoda seventh, Charles Leclerc eighth, Carlos Sainz ninth and Pierre Gasly rounds out the top ten.

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