Abu Dhabi GP: Friday Summary – Bottas reprimanded while topping both FP1/FP2

F1 News

29 November 2019 at 22:00
  • Bevan Youl

It’s the final race of the 2019 Formula 1 season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix where Mercedes look to back on form, topping both practice sessions, with Valtteri Bottas picking up a reprimand for hitting Romain Grosjean, while Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto discusses the remains of the Brazil GP situation and Lewis Hamilton representing the #1 on his car.

What happened in FP1 and FP2?
 
Bottas with his brand new power unit in his Mercedes, unlike teammate Hamilton who reported problems that couldn’t be found, set the fastest time after Charles Leclerc and continued to go faster throughout for the majority of the time. The last half an hour saw Daniel Ricciardo spew oil around the last corner, bringing out the red flag, for Sebastian Vettel to later spin into the barriers at the end.
 
Read the full FP1 report here!
 
FP2 saw the Finn again at the top a few tenths ahead of his teammate to establish the Silver Arrows dominance with both Ferrari drivers showing a bit more than they did in FP1 by finishing third and fourth. Bottas though got himself into a bit of trouble colliding with Romain Grosjean, bringing out a lengthy red flag to clear the debris.
 
Read the full FP2 report here!
 
Bottas reprimanded for collision with Grosjean
 
The collision between Bottas and Grosjean sparked blame from one to the other at first, leading them both to be summoned to the stewards later on in the day. But it was announced shortly after the second practice the Bottas would be reprimanded after accepting responsibility.
 
Read the full story here!
 
Binotto says “there’s only one true version” of Vettel/Leclerc Brazil crash
 
The crash between Vettel and Leclerc caused a lot of debate as to who was at fault with both drivers blaming each other whilst also accepting part of the blame and what could have been done differently. But Binnoto says it “damaged the interest of the Scuderia Ferrari” more so.
 
Read the full story here!
 
Lewis Hamilton using #1 on his car
 
Hamilton normally runs the #44 on his car, as he has done throughout the majority of his racing career but the Briton opted for the number reserved for the World Champion in Abu Dhabi. Something he did do this time last year.