Red Bull’s Max Verstappen led both Mercedes in the first practice session for this weekend’s Formula One 2020 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Verstappen edged Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas who, in turn, beat out his seven-time defending Formula 1 world champion teammate Lewis Hamilton, who was fifth after returning after missing the last race in Bahrain after contracting the Covid-19 coronavirus. Hamilton missed the first half of the session with a brake problem.
Williams driver George Russell, who replaced Hamilton during his Covid-19 quarantine for the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, returned to his team and was 16th fastest out of 20 cars.
