Motorsport journalist and podcaster
Sergio Perez led a Red Bull one-two in final practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in a close contest with Mercedes.
In a quiet session in unrepresentative daytime conditions Perez set the benchmark at 1m 24.982s on a set of soft tires to beat teammate Max Verstappen by 0.152s.
Lewis Hamilton was a close third for Mercedes at 0.24s off the pace. The Brit set 17 laps for the session, among the most of any driver, as he sought to verify overnight fixes targeted at an unbalanced W13 on Friday.
Continue reading on RACERAnyone hoping for a repeat of the unpredictable SĂŁo Paulo Grand Prix ought to reset their expectations.
With a regular grand prix weekend format at a well-manicured circuit with stable and predictable weather, Red Bull Racing was back at its best ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in both single-lap pace and during the race simulations at the end of second practice.
Max Verstappen, despite missing first practice to give rookie Liam Lawson a run, was right on the pace from the moment he jumped in the car for the twilight session, sweeping from minds the memory of Mercedesâs one-two finish in first practice â and the teamâs strong result one week ago in Brazil.
Continue reading on FOX SPORTSDaniel Ricciardo will rejoin Red Bull Racing as the teamâs third driver in 2023, according to team motorsport adviser Helmut Marko.
The team hasnât formally confirmed the news, but Marko told Sky Sport Deutschland on Friday at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that the Australian would be returning to Milton Keynes in a promotional and ambassadorial role next season.
âRicciardo will be our third driver,â Marko said. âWe have so many sponsors, we have to do show runs and the like, so of course heâs one of the most high profile and best suited.â
Continue reading on FOX SPORTSMax Verstappen has ended Friday practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with he fastest time after rocketing to top spot in FP2 in Yas Marina.
Verstappen took control of the time sheet a quarter of the way through the session on his first soft tire run but improved that time twice more, including with another fresh set of tires, to secure top spot with a time of 1m 25.146s.
It gave him a 0.341s buffer over George Russellâs Mercedes, which was suffering significant cuts in engine power down the straights before switching to race runs in the second half of the session.
Continue reading on RACERLewis Hamilton led teammate George Russell in a Mercedes one-two in opening practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Both drivers surged on soft tires to take the top two spots with around 15 minutes remaining, with Hamilton 0.22s ahead of Russell.
Charles Leclerc was a close third, 0.035s adrift in his Ferrari, while Sergio Perez was 0.334s off the pace for Red Bull.
Continue reading on RACER