British driver George Russell from Mercedes recorded the fastest time in the first free practice session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final round of the Formula 1 World Championship, on Friday. Many substitute drivers participated in place of some big names. Three-time world champion Max Verstappen from the Netherlands did not take part in the session, nor did his Red Bull teammate, Mexican Sergio Perez, with Jake Dennis, the Formula E champion, and French Formula 2 driver Isaac Hajar instead. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes also missed the session, replaced by Danish driver Frederik Vesti.
The participation of substitutes is in line with the teams' commitments to give rising drivers a chance to get behind the wheel. Verstappen and his team, Red Bull, had already secured the drivers' and constructors' championships for the current season, while the battle continues between Mercedes and Ferrari for supremacy over the other competitors.
Russell excelled, recording a time of 1:26.072 using soft tires, finishing 0.288 seconds ahead of reserve Aston Martin driver Felipe Drugovich. Australian Daniel Ricciardo from AlphaTauri placed third, directly ahead of Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas from Alfa Romeo and Canadian Lance Stroll from Aston Martin. Robert Shwartzman finished eighth in a Ferrari, becoming the second rookie in the top ten alongside Drugovich, with Shwartzman finishing less than a tenth of a second ahead of his Ferrari teammate, Spaniard Carlos Sainz.
