Formula 1: George Russell dominates first tests in Abu Dhabi News

George Russell (Mercedes) set the best time on Friday in the first free practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final round of the Formula 1 World Championship.

The Briton dominated the Brazilian Felipe Drugovitch, Aston Martin's reserve driver who replaced the Spaniard Fernando Alonso for this session, and the AlphaTauri of the Australian Daniel Ricciardo, 3rd best time on the Yas Marina circuit.

The Finn Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) and the Canadian Lance Stroll, at the wheel of the second Aston Martin, complete the Top 5. Like Alonso, ten drivers were missing during his first tests, including Max Verstappen (Red Bull), assured of the drivers' title, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari).

And for good reason, the session was an opportunity for the teams to field their young drivers one last time in place of the starters. According to the regulations, F1 teams are required to give the wheel to their youngsters at least twice during the season, as part of the first test session only.

Among them, the Frenchman Théo Pourchaire finished 14th in the session at the wheel of the Alfa Romeo usually driven by the Chinese Zhou Guanyu. On Saturday, the Sauber protégé has a first chance to win his first Formula 2 championship title.

1st free practice session:

George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1:26.072 (26 tours)

Felipe Drugovich (BRA/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:26.360 (26)

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:26.433 (26)

Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) 1:26.453 (21)

Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:26.631 (21)

Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:26.665 (25)

Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 1:26.676 (24)

Robert Shwartzman (ISR/Ferrari) 1:26.703 (25)

Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:26.720 (26)

Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:26.725 (27)

Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:26.742 (27)