Free 3: Hamilton reigns supreme during final practice at Abu Dhabi

McLaren’s once again fastest as Vettel suffers from brake issues.

Lewis Hamilton has continued McLaren’s competitive start to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, by ending the third and final practice session fastest ahead of team-mate Jenson Button. The British duo were followed by reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel, who suffered from brake issues during the session.

With only one practice session remaining for the teams and drivers to prepare for the all-important qualifying session, the drivers instantly took to the Yas Marina circuit as soon as the session began. Once again, the track was bathed in glorious sunshine, as Sergio Perez led out the queue of cars in his Sauber. However, the majority of the drivers only completed installation laps, before returning to the pits.

Eventually, Kamui Kobayashi set the initial pace with a 01:49.193, indicating that the Japanese driver was running with heavy fuel loads. Kobayashi was able to improve the next time around, with a 01:45.628. Kimi Raikkonen quickly shot to the top, before the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton went fastest with a 01:44.264. Although Pastor Maldonado momentarily went fastest, the Briton soon reasserted his authority over proceedings by setting a time one whole second quicker than the Williams driver.

Lewis Hamilton continued to reign supreme at the top of the timing sheets, with the 2008 World Champion steadily improving his advantage to the rest of the field, eventually setting a 01:42.148. Jenson Button slotted into 2nd position, as the McLaren duo once again looked impressive at the front. Romain Grosjean and Bruno Senna became the first two drivers to opt for the soft Pirelli tyre compound, as Sebastian Vettel remained stuck in the pit lane.

As the session progressed, Sebastian Vettel’s mechanics busied themselves around the German’s Red Bull RB8, working tirelessly on the brakes. Eventually it was confirmed that the reigning World Champion was suffering from a brake-caliper issue, which the ever-efficient Red Bull mechanics were able to fix as the session entered it’s closing quarter. With no time yet to be set during the session, the Milton Keynes-based outfit remained hopeful of seeing the German finally take to the track before the session ended.

Eventually the Championship leader took to the track with only several minutes remaining in the session, with his earlier brake issues now corrected on his RB8 machine. Whilst Vettel prepared for his first flying lap of the session, Lewis Hamilton once again marginally improved at the front with a 01:42.130. After aborting his first flying lap, Sebastian Vettel finally set a competitive time in the dying seconds, as the German went 3rd with a relatively impressive 01:42.614.

However, the McLaren duo of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button remained fastest at the front as the session came to an end, with the reigning World Champion just pipping his team-mate for 3rd. Ferrari were once again woefully off the pace down in 8th and 11th, despite numerous upgrades to their car. With all three practice sessions now over for the weekend, the teams and drivers will now be preparing for the all-important qualifying hour later in the day, which will determine the starting grid for Sunday’s 55-lap Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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