P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell topped first practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of Aston Martin reserve driver Felipe Drugovich. Russell used a set of softs to lead the unrepresentative daytime session ahea…
In first practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, George Russell was the fastest driver, followed closely by Aston Martin reserve driver Felipe Drugovich. Russell had a troubled start due to a loose helmet and steering issues but managed to set the fastest time with soft tires. Drugovich, driving Fernando Alonso’s car, was an unexpected contender, finishing 0.288s behind Russell. Many teams had stand-in drivers on the track, as the regulations require them to give practice sessions to rookie or inexperienced drivers. Daniel Ricciardo finished third for AlphaTauri, while Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll rounded out the top five. There were incidents of blocking and dangerous maneuvers during the session, with Logan Sargeant and Carlos Sainz involved in a near-crash.
