Nico Rosberg pips Lewis Hamilton as fastest in Abu Dhabi FP2

Philip Duncan 19:44 27/11/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Rosberg enjoyed the final practice.

    Nico Rosberg ended second practice for Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on top of the timesheets after edging out Lewis Hamilton.

    In a role-reversal of the opening session at the Yas Marina Circuit, in which Hamilton set the pace, Rosberg finished 0.138 seconds clear of his Mercedes team-mate.

    The all-conquering Mercedes team held a clear advantage over the rest of the field, with Force India’s Sergio Perez third fastest, albeit more than half-a-second adrift of Rosberg.

    – INTERVIEW: Ricciardo learning lessons from a difficult season
    – Yas Marina Circuit: A track record of F1 drama and innovation

    – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Circuit guide infographic
    – #Life360: The UAE’s search for a Formula One star of its own

    Daniel Ricciardo was fourth for Red Bull, with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel fifth.

    While opening practice took place in the intense Abu Dhabi heat, the day’s second session, which started at dusk, will be representative of qualifying and race conditions.

    As such, Rosberg, who is aiming for his sixth consecutive pole and third win on the spin, may feel he holds a slight advantage over his world championship-winning team-mate on Friday night.

    Hamilton sealed the title in Austin last month, but has lost out to Rosberg in the ensuing races in Mexico and Brazil.

    And the build-up to Hamilton’s penultimate outing of the season in Brazil was overshadowed by his car crash in Monaco where he lost control of his £1.5million Pagani Zonda supercar and hit a stationary vehicle.

    Hamilton blamed the incident on a lack of sleep and too much partying, which provoked his former McLaren boss Ron Dennis, who arrived in the Abu Dhabi paddock on Friday, to condemn his behaviour.

    Dennis, speaking earlier this week, said: ”If he was at McLaren he wouldn’t be behaving the way he is because he wouldn’t be allowed to…He’s shaking off some chains he didn’t want to have.”

    Hamilton issued the best-possible response to the McLaren chairman on Friday morning, only to be usurped by Rosberg later in the day.

    With both driver and team championships having long since been decided, the anxiety which surrounded this race in the desert last year, where Hamilton beat Rosberg to the title, is somewhat lacking. 

    Recommended