Formula 1

First practice in Abu Dhabi from 10.30 a.m. LIVE

Charles Leclerc

(Bild: APA/AFP/Andrej ISAKOVIC)

Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap in a very special Formula 1 practice session ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Monegasque drove his Ferrari to first place in the season finale ahead of runner-up Lando Norris in the McLaren and record world champion Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes. Leclerc's brother Arthur, three years younger than him, also drove the second Ferrari for the first time and finished 18th. The young driver took over the car from Spaniard Carlos Sainz, marking a first in the long history of the racing series. Never before had two brothers driven for the same team in a Formula 1 session. Arthur Leclerc finished the session a good 1.8 seconds behind.

Many young drivers were given a mandatory opportunity to take part in the practice session. World champion Max Verstappen also took a break during the one-hour session and left his Red Bull to Frenchman Isack Hadjar.

Here are the results from the 1st free practice session:

An era in Formula 1 comes to an end in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday (2pm/live in the sportkrone.at ticker). Record world champion Lewis Hamilton will drive his last race for the Silver Arrows after eleven years with Mercedes, for whom he has won six of his seven world championship titles.

Ferrari announces fight to the last corner
McLaren with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri go into the United Arab Emirates Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit inAbuDhabi with a 21-point lead. A maximum of 44 points are still up for grabs. "We will fight until the last corner of the last lap," announced Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur for his drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. However, Leclerc has been handed a ten-place grid penalty...