Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Practice 1 Formula 1

Good morning. Nine months after starting the season in Australia and

18 countries later hers and we are in Abu Dhabi for the finale of the

season. Alan Matt Michelle Li will not quite the end of school feeling

just yet, but we are getting there. It has been a long season but

exciting in parts? Yes, there have been some good stories with several

still to come. Who is going to finish fourth in the drivers' title?

But also the engines of Red Bull and the Renault taking over Lotus.

Suggestions that we might even hear something this weekend, so, still

things to talk about. This is a very different circuit. We have had the

history of Interlagos and Mexico as well and now we come here to a very

shiny Abu Dhabi? Yes, and also the race will be in the dark. It is a

night race. But it is pretty hot at the moment, 35 degrees on the track.

You have got two huge straights leading into the final, very tricky

section around the hotel. This track has got a lot of adverse cambers, so

the car is always sliding and moving. You will see the drivers

always working on the steering wheel. So technically, it is

challenging. Still a lot to play for, as we have said. We know that

Lewis wrap things up in Austin. Nico Rosberg has now secured second.

Sebastian Vettel is in third. Just one point separates the 2 Finns.

Impressively, Daniil Kvyat is ahead of Daniel Ricciardo. In the

Constructors' Championship... It is unlikely that McLaren could catch

Sauber. Who would have thought I would be saying that?! Nico Rosberg

is on a roll - what do you put it down to? He seems to be the one with

the confidence right now. Lewis Hamilton since winning the

championship has not been able to get the momentum in qualifying.

Rosberg says nothing has really changed on the car. Hamilton says

there is something about the car which is not quite right for him.

But the differences are so small between them that if you do get it

right, then it can make the difference. Some talk in the media

that Mercedes should be letting these guys battle it out. Do you

think that is realistic? Yet it is, it is realistic, but there is a

practical thing where you always have one strategy which is better

than the other. The lead driver in qualifying and in the race but the

option of that strategy. So if you want to have that strategy, you make

sure you are leading. It is daylight now but of course this is a twilight

race, Ben? That's right. But we are in the light for this first

practice. This is pretty much the entertainment hub of this part of

the world, isn't it, Tony? It is an amazing facility, built at a cost of

something like ?800 million. It is sparkling. Sebastian Vettel said it

was like Disneyland. That's right. And you have got this marina as

well. It is a gorgeous place to sit and watch. Plenty of fans around

already. We are hoping for a good first session. And as we said, it is

daylight but the drivers are getting prepared for this race. It is not

the most representative because it is a twilight race. Lewis Hamilton

there just getting into his car. Liz get involved with the programme. You

can do it on Facebook or you can do so via the BBC Sport website. Alan

and myself are going to the pit lane in the hope of finding a spot of

shade. I will leave you in the hands of Ben and Tony Jardine.

BEN EDWARDS: So, the start of the first practice section here in Abu

Dhabi, the final Grand Prix of the season. Daniil Kvyat heads out

first, closely followed by Sebastian Vettel. One unique aspect of this

track is that they come through a tunnel to get onto the circuit...

Yes, the drivers did not like that initially. They said it might block

the pit lane, but it has not happened. Actually they rejoin at

quite a high-speed part of the circuit as well, which needs a bit

of care. Yes, we have seen incidents with cars coming out onto

the track there. Let's just one you through with any changes we have in

terms of drivers. Really there are only two. Jolyon

terms of drivers. Really there are again out for Lotus. Romain Grosjean

sits this session out. Once again Lotus were very late getting their

cars. They only got their Lotus were very late getting their

yesterday morning. It has been a very difficult time for the cruise.

They had to get dispensation from the FIA not

They had to get dispensation from yesterday. And the other one, the

only other change for this weekend, is that Roberto Merhi is back in the

Marussia team. Alexander Rossi is busy this weekend. He is here but

racing in GP2. Yes, Rossi, when he initially did the deal, there

two remaining rounds of the GP2 left. He said he would concentrate

on the GP2 for those events. How would you assess Alexander Rossi's

Formula 1 involvement, has he done enough to impress the paddock? I

think he has made a good start. I think he WAS quite impressive. And I

think he has forced Will Stevens to up his race pace. It has been

noticeable that we have heard some irate leading drivers saying the

Manors are not getting out of the way. But their race result is

dependent upon them not losing time against the readers. -- against the

leaders. So they have not in getting off-line, they have been keeping

position. I off-line, they have been keeping

caused by Rossi stepping up and forcing

caused by Rossi stepping up and pace. We are looking at Sebastian

caused by Rossi stepping up and Vettel, who has a great record here

caused by Rossi stepping up and at Abu Dhabi. Kimi Raikkonen has

also won here in the past. Coming back to that Manor Marussia story,

Tony. Down the back of the field. However next year they will have an

up-to-date chassis with a Mercedes engine in the back of the car. They

will have much more power and a chassis built to 2016 rules as

opposed to what has essentially been a 2014 car this year. I think there

might be a bit of a bidding war for the drivers to try to get into that

Marussia team. I spoke to someone who is in GP2 at the moment,

Marussia team. I spoke to someone will actually be driving for them

this week in a tyre test and I get the impression that there is a lot

of interest in that. I think you're right. Absolutely. The fact that

that car is going to take a quantum step will make it very attractive to

a lot of people. And that will up the pressure on a lot of the guys.

announcement here this weekend but announcement here this weekend but

it is something to look forward to over the winter. Out on the

circuit, has to Maldonado -- Pastor Maldonado being followed at the

moment by Nico Rosberg. At the moment they are just checking the

cars have been fully rebuilt. Max Verstappen put in another really

good performance last time in Brazil, pulling off some tremendous

overtaking manoeuvres. We went along to his chat to journalists yesterday

and it struck me how confident he is at the moment. Not cocky or

arrogant, he has a lovely Manor about him but he knows he has put in

a good first season and now it is all about how he gets on in his

second season. Quite often it might not quite so well in the second

year. This is Daniel Ricciardo and you can see the amazing brakes on

the car to measure the airflow. That's right. Just speaking to the

team principal, he said that Melbourne, straightaway, the first

race, he realised there was something a bit special about Max.

He said he was out on a set of prime tyres and he had drivers behind him

on options and he said, as they got a bit closer to him he just raised

his game by a couple of tenths at the same time as managing the race

and keeping his eye on fuel. He said it was extraordinary for a debut.

And I think the overtaking has been one of the most impressive things

this year for him. Sergio Perez and is into the pits. Of course, Force

India have had an impressive second half to the year. He started with

what was effectively their 2014 car. Once they got the new car onto the

track, they did extremely well. They got useful points to be fair even

with the older car. Let's see what Kimi Raikkonen has been up to. This

is a replay of him on the circuit just a moment ago. He has got little

lights at the back. Measuring systems of all sorts on the cars.

Those lasers may be looking at ride height levels. The more the car

speeds up down the straight, the airflow pushes the car down into the

road and changes the right height. It might be measuring that or it

might be something else. Talking about Force India, as you were, they

started off impressively with the about Force India, as you were, they

old car, as you say. But when they brought the update into play, it had

a lot better high-speed balance. And a lot better high-speed balance. And

they have actually consolidated themselves into a very solid fifth

in the Constructors' Championship, with nobody really close to them. I

think they have benefited from McLaren falling away. Last year they

were fighting McLaren a lot of the time. That is true. Nonetheless it

has been a hugely successful season from them. Pastor Maldonado, who

will stay with this team. No official announcements yet about

Renault buying into that team. Everybody says it is about to

happen. But as yet we have not seen that announcement made. But we know

that the drivers will be Pastor Maldonado along with Jolyon Palmer.

And Palmer must be relishing the fact that this will be the last time

he does a Friday morning only session. Next time he will be doing

the whole weekend. Access tap-in quietly sitting and waiting for his

signal to come back out. Lewis Hamilton is on track. -- Max

Verstappen. Let's see whether he will be able to turn the tables on

his team-mate this weekend. He is will be able to turn the tables on

still looking for that 44th win as well as his 50th pole position.

RADIO: Is my seat in the normal position? In the low position. In

the low position. That is interesting. He has some options

there. Sometimes on the street tracks in particular they will go

for a slightly raised position to improve visibility. On this one they

should be happy with the lower position. He always loves the final

section of this track. He likens it to a kart track, where he had so

much success in his early years of course. Yes, late-breaking, bouncing

it over the kerbs, acrobatics - that is his domain. He did make a bit of

a mistake here last year, getting outqualify by Nico Rosberg after

overcooking it a bit in this final sector. This weekend they are on the

softer of the tyre compounds which Pirelli brings. So, they are on the

soft and the super-soft. By the end of the lap in qualifying here,

sometimes that tyre has given its best. So they are really struggling

in these last few corners. That's right. If you think back to last

year, quite a lot of instances on the super-soft where it was locking

up by the end of the lap. He is very aggressive, he uses it hard. And

last year he admitted, he had two really scruffy laps in Q3. Of course

the atmosphere was immense then when the championship was still up for

grabs. Last year everybody was still edgy, wondering how that final race

would resolve. Rosberg was still in with a good chance of winning the

Championship. In the end it was Warburg who suffered a failure of

the hybrid system and ultimately he could not challenge. Hamilton was on

a mission that day. He went on to win the race as well as the title.

He still had to finish the race. There is always the chance of

something going wrong. The championship that got away from

Fernando Alonso in particular, getting stuck behind Petrova that

after lap and finishing in second place, Sebastian Vettel took the win

and the championship as well. We were just talking about the tyre

choice but we will not see the super soft in this session, will we? They

will save it for later today? Yes they will. And also the super

super-soft that you mentioned earlier, that will only be on street

circuits next year. This does not have a lot of grip. Daniel

Ricciardo's wheel spin out of the pit garage and some opposite lock as

he goes down the pit lane. The tyre pressures are a bit higher than they

were last year. They've got a minimum tyre pressure and a maximum

camber on the tyre that they can actually run and that is now up to

20 psi on the front. That means low speed grip that you spoke about,

Lewis Hamilton liking it so much, he's going to need all of his feel

and balance trying to get the card to float through those corners,

which in my opinion will be one of the keys to that lap. We will

certainly be keeping an eye on them and seeing how the final sector

shapes up when we get to qualifying. Right now they are finding their

feet a bit and getting their cars into the balance they want. This

session can be misleading because it is in the heat of the date and we

have a track temperature at the moment of 35 degrees. As we go into

the evening and the sun drops, the track temperature goes down with it.

It's not quite as hot as it was here 12 months ago. The track temperature

for the first session was up to 45 last year. This is helpful in a way,

that the track temperature is not quite as high as we have seen. We

have been asking you on the Facebook page for your stars of the season.

Who or what have been your stars of the season? Join in with

Who or what have been your stars of will be funded have your comments on

what has been a highlight for you. RADIO: I need a change of steering

wheel. Lewis needing a change of steering wheel, not quite sure what

is going on there. Rosberg has now set the first flying lap of the

session, 1:55.1. The fastest time in this session last year, 1.43.

Rosberg went on to take pole position here. The Toro Rosso we're

looking at right position here. The Toro Rosso we're

call. They are owned by the man who owns Red Bull but they don't have

anything like the same budget to work with. They have a solid budget

but it is very much a midfield team. Has this been a good year by

their standards, with these two drivers, Verstappen and Carlos

Sainz? I think it has been a fabulous year. It's had a lot of

downforce and it's been a very good car. It's been hamstrung a little

bit by the lack of run by the Renault power unit. They reckon that

120 points have gone begging through the season because of those

problems. The overtaking manoeuvres they have pulled off, I said to

Prost, has the speed deficit rather than advantage made it even more

impressive? He said yes but they have had a good tool to do it. This

car is normally very stable on the braking. Normally. But sometimes you

can go on the brink 's -- on the brakes and it will spin. It's very

delicate. brakes and it will spin. It's very

more grunt. It refers to a little wing that sits underneath the main

rear wing, just underneath the engine cover, not on the car at the

moment so we can't pointed out to you at the moment.

RADIO: ... Steering wheel so we can continue the run. Otherwise I think

we will probably lose it. Hamilton has stayed out there, currently

fourth fastest. You're talking about has stayed out there, currently

the Aero and the efficiency of it. On the back of the car there is a

huge element measuring with lots of sensors. That is collecting all of

the data because the aerodynamics are so critical at the moment on

these cars, because they are all talking about efficiency. Horsepower

is one thing and it needs an engine formula. Red Bull feel now with all

of the games they have made through the season that their chassis is as

good as the Mercedes, which without a shadow of a doubt has been the

best one all season. However, we know that this team is not content

with being fought in the championship and they want to

improve stop this is all about what they will be doing in 2016. Keeping

everything cool while the car is there. Daniel Ricciardo is on his

way once again. Riding on board with Valtteri Bottas. Hamilton has just

gone second. Ericsson and Merhi the only others who have set a

lap time. This arena and hotel is resplendent particularly at night

time when they light up all the windowpanes that are across the top

of that hotel. windowpanes that are across the top

it's probably more impressive is the king down into the marina. Valtteri

Bottas now goes the fastest in this session for Williams. Williams have

had a solid season this year, wrapping up the place in the

constructors trophy. Let's see what Vettel did a moment ago. He went

very deep but did not actually locked up which was a bit strange,

down into 1011. Then picked it up once again. That was a bit of a

strange one. Just talking about Williams, of course their season has

been a solid season. A bit of a mishap at the end of the last Grand

Prix which we didn't get to commentate on, which was the fact

that Felipe Massa got excluded from the Brazilian Grand Prix for

finishing in eighth place. It was a decision about tyre pressures wasn't

it? It was actually tyre temperatures. Out of the blanket it

was 27 degrees to heart. temperatures. Out of the blanket it

initially appeal that and then said they could not follow through with

the appeal. Pat Symonds explained that yesterday, the technical

director. He said, basically, we are third in the Constructors'

Championship and four points lost didn't make any difference.

Amusingly we just made next year's entry fee more expensive, because

that changes with the number of points they have! On top of that,

the Appeal Court is a good judicial reprocess and you have to be very

well-prepared, you have to pay barristers and people to represent

you and he's been through a lot of that. He said "we did have three

pieces of evidence", they had their data from tyre pressures and

infrared sensors and he's convinced that they would have won that appeal

but they decided not to follow through. Roberto Merhi with a little

lock-up, nothing too dramatic. The Spaniard in the Manor Marussia car.

Thanks for your comments coming in. David Tyrell says, we asked about

stars of the season, and he said Alonso and Button,

stars of the season, and he said and constant will to be positive has

to be applauded. Another backs him up, the stars of the year are Button

and Alonso, handled every situation with a smile. A lot of you

supporting them. Interesting comment yesterday by Jenson Button, saying

that in his opinion and Alonso did he has been a tougher team-mate for

him than Lewis Hamilton was in that 2010-2012 period when they were

team-mates at McLaren. Jensen also making the point that Lewis has got

even better since then dubbed yellow he said what everyone appreciates,

the relentlessness of Alonso as a racer is always there. He said you

get the day, Lewis is obviously phenomenal and untouchable on

Sundays but you some days when he goes missing. Alonso, if you are in

front of him he is pushing you want, if you are behind him you are trying

to hold on. He said I'm not going away, clever drivers say clever

things for a reason. Alonso also responded to a comment yesterday,

just looking at a replay here of Roberto Merhi, he did a bit of curb

hopping, and he referred to a question about the good relationship

between himself and Jenson Button, they have been joking around a bit

of course which we saw in Brazil... He said they do get on well but if

you -- you can bet that if the car is competitive next year and they

are fighting each other for the World Championship, the atmosphere

might be a bit more tense between them. Is it vast li optimistic to

hope that they've got any chance of battling for the World Championship

next year? It is so hard to know, Ben. They are at the start of the

development process of the Honda engine. If you think back to Ferrari

last year they had similar problems. It was the same area. They

made enormous progress this year. If they can do a Ferrari, they might be

battling not for the championship but possibly for podiums and who

knows, maybe a win in a race. Rosberg fastest from Hamilton in the

yellow. Hulkenberg and Perez showing well for Force India. It's

interesting talking about engines, I went to a Mercedes briefing just

before coming up to the commentary box and Andy Powell was making the

point that these power units and now are as powerful as the last of the

three litre V ten engines that we saw at the end of 2005,

three litre V ten engines that we running on nearly half the fuel flow

rate, using 190 kilos of fuel per hour in the V ten engines, now on

100 kilos per hour. Not quite half but getting on for it, and yet they

are not as powerful as that. It just shows the sort of advances there

have been, the efficiency of a lot of these engines is incredible. What

also was interesting and a bit worrying for everyone else perhaps,

I asked him if that element rate had slowed down a bit, you've years to

get your head around these things, and it slowed down? He said not

really, the engineering groups are still coming up with great ideas and

we're pushing on. It's not going to be easy for any team to catch

Mercedes because they are still developing that engine. We've

mention Honda in the past and there is a tendency for the Japanese to

want to do everything from within and not poach people from

elsewhere, to do it from within. That might hold them back, because

it is quite complex technology. Interestingly, he was saying it is

definitely relevant to read cards as well, James Allen who will be

commentating on the second session this afternoon asked to that

specific question, you are getting all that power from a much smaller

engine now... RADIO: Second lap... He was talking

about his tyres, not the car overheating but the thermal on the

tyres getting too hot on the second lap. Hamilton has gone fastest now

over Rosberg, but not much difference between them. Smaller

engines are going to be the order of difference between them. Smaller

the day in road cars as well, and they going to be turbo-charged and

use turbochargers. Which is exactly what these engines are using in

Formula 1. He said although there is nothing that would immediately show

the transfer from Formula 1 to that technology, -- to road car

technology, he said in Mercedes there is a massive amounts of work

going on on the road car site to transfer the kind of information

they are showing here into road cars. I think it's absolutely right

that Formula 1 should be seen to be relevant. You can't rarely contest

that. What we've done wrong is that we have not had a customer cost

count on the engine, so manufacturers can spend as much as

they want but they have to provide the power units to customer teams at

a sensible price. Which is what has driven this recently announced

a sensible price. Which is what has tender shot down and there has now

been a proposal for January 15 next year. They have to come down with a

solution to providing a minimum number of teams so that everyone has

access to a power unit at a sensible cost. The FIA said a sensible cost

was 12 million euros and teams are now paying 20 plus. I imagine it

will commonly be somewhere between those two figures. That will be

demented as earlier 2017. Lots of changes certainly in the offing but

it depends on agreements being made, doesn't it? Sebastian Vettel on

track in the Ferrari right now. Despite the Ferrari World theme park

being right next to this track, Bastian and Kimi were -- Sebastian

and Kimi were on the roller-coaster the other day. I did that for times

-- four times. Terrifying! He has gone faster than Hamilton now,

Rosberg. Both Force India up there. Bottas up in a place -- Jenson

Button in eighth place. I don't think we can read too much optimism

into that. Alan, I wanted to bring you in on

this. Just looking back on the season, Nico Hulkenberg, winner at

Le Mans, and he had a great period in the summer, but things did not go

quite so well after that, with a few too many accidents...? So, we are

just looking on track at the moment at a bit of a slow Mo of Jenson

Button. We will come back to Alan in just a moment. Everybody making the

most of the kerb down there. There are regulations at the chicanes but

if you go behind the kerb and gain an advantage, that would be reported

to the stewards. Something which is more for the race itself rather than

qualifying. Alan, I was just asking you about what you thought of Nico

Hulkenberg's season? I think actually he has had quite a good

season. However, Sergio Perez has grabbed a couple of the headlines.

Hulkenberg without a shadow of a grabbed a couple of the headlines.

doubt in the middle of the year, about Le Mans, he was on a real

roll. He was the one who was delivering. When it has been

difficult for them, he has usually been in a good position to pick out

some points. Until they got their upgrade they were hanging on as a

team. But since then, since the British Grand Prix, the car has been

a big step forward. It has been the biggest improving car over the

course of the season, not surprises in their started with a 2014

specifications. Hulkenberg alongside Perez, as a unit, I think they will

be very strong in 2016. You have been out in the Middle East for more

than a week now, been out in the Middle East for more

endurance race last weekend. You have got your Audi on and Audi came

close in the end but of course it was Mark Webber along with his

team-mates who was Mark Webber along with his

title. What were your thoughts? It was very, very close. All the way

through the was very, very close. All the way

winning car of the McLean, Mark Webber and his team-mates, had some

technical problems to the point where the engine

technical problems to the point and on again. And they had to finish

fifth if the Audi was and on again. And they had to finish

The Audi was leading for a significant proportion but

ultimately it was that car which took the title. After 66 hours, the

World Championships came down to the final half an hour of the season.

Mark Webber I can tell you, after missing out on the World

Championship Elche years ago here, he was over the moon and he had a

celebratory drink on the Saturday night. And we hope he might be

around on Saturday night and we can congratulate him. His last pole

position was here actually in 2013. The outqualified Sebastian Vettel on

that occasion. That was a famous rivalry, tone. It certainly was. It

was that period earlier in that year when Mark won back-to-back races in

Barcelona and Monaco, and I think in his book he reveals that they came

out that it came out that Seb had a cracked chassis, which might have

been a phantom cracked chassis, which made him feel more confident.

It is funny now when Vettel talks about it, it is almost a wistful

looking back to that rivalry that he had with Mark Webber. The cars are

now coming in. They have used the initial set of tyres and they have

to hand them back after 30 minutes of use. We are at that point.

Rosberg is fastest, from Hamilton. Raikkonen is third fastest for

Ferrari. Hulkenberg and Perez are both up their full Force India. --

for Force India. Let's go down to the pits. The news is on the other

side of the Lotus garage. Romain Grosjean Sully Kaikai has been taken

over this morning by Jolyon Palmer, who will berate Singh for the team

in 2016. -- Romain Grosjean's car has been taken over. But there is

some work to do which will deny Jolyon Palmer the chance to drive in

this session, it appears. It is a shame. It appears it was yet another

problem with the brakes. So, they have worked from 8.30 in the morning

straight through until just getting into the curfew time. Basically it

means that from the first pallet arriving, 27 hours later the car

went out on track. It is a shame. The guys in this team are up against

it. Romain Grosjean said to me yesterday, it has not affected him

too much. Had to have a sandwich for lunch instead of a healthy meal but

in fact, it is more apparent with the guys in the team who have almost

been working for 20 hours just to get these cars out. Thanks, Lee. It

has been a very tough time for that team. It is going to be Romain

Grosjean's last outing for this team before he moves across to America.

So, it is a bittersweet weekend for him. And you spoke to him

yesterday, Lee, so let's find out what he had to say. Right now their

very happy to be here, to race for the last time for Lotus, trying to

do a good race. It is always special. When you get to Sunday

evening it will probably be hard to leave the guys. They have become

like family and it will be sad. But looking at the future I think the

new chapter will be very exciting. Never say never. I may come back one

day. Well, he made his debut in 2009 with that team at Valencia. All ten

podiums have come with that team. He had to leave it for a while. His

initial career in Formula 1 was not usually successful and he went back

to GP2. I remember commenting on him on a race here in Abu Dhabi in a

Ford GT car and he won on debut, which very impressive. He was in

that period when he was rebuilding his career, dot back into Formula 1

and although there were some hiccups in 2012 he has delivered since then.

Indeed. I was impressed with him from the start when he came in in

2009 against Fernando Alonso and he got within a couple of tenths of him

in a couple of qualifying sessions. It was a year after the incident in

Singapore. He was there in the middle of that. As you say, that was

the debut in 2009 but he has been connected since 2005 when he went

there on a development programme. So, a ten year relationship with

that team. As you say, mixed feelings for him. Yes, it will be an

interesting weekend but he is obviously very excited about the new

challenge of going to America. He still has a good relationship with

Fernando Alonso, I believe. You often see them chatting away. We can

now go down to the pits and join the Williams technical director Pat

Symonds. Packed, how relevant is this first session to you guys? Of

course, track temperatures tend to behind in this session than in the

race? Absolutely right. You just need to be careful what you are

doing. Obviously, second practice is more relevant. That is when we do

the majority of the tyre work. So, this session is about really

understanding our energy management and things like that. Ensuring that

we know what our deployment is, what our fuel consumption looks like,

those sort of things. Hi, it is tone. We have heard about what

happened in Brazil with Felipe. Have you got any clues as to what

happened that weekend, was it the new kerbs, what was causing him

problems? Yes, it was not a great weekend for him. I think we did have

to change a few parts on the car which we were not happy with. I

think we are back on top of it now so I am sure he will be strong here.

Pat, you had a great weekend here last year, with that end of season

finale and all the attention on Hamilton and Rosberg but you ended

up with a double podium. Do you think you can be that competitive

again this weekend? I think we can be very competitive this weekend.

This is a good circuit for us. Of course, Ferrari are a lot closer to

Mercedes than they were last year. So, there is quite a squabble to get

onto the podium. But I think as a team, Williams can be strong. We can

see some images at the moment of Bottas. He has got this one-point

advantage over Kimi Raikkonen in the Championship. How focused is he on

that or is it just concentrating on getting the best out of the weekend?

I don't think they are mutually exclusive. In getting the best out

of the weekend, you get the most points and he has the best chance of

beating his countryman. I don't think he is seeing that as an

objective. Is objective is to get up on the podium and if Raikkonen does

not get there, then he has achieved all his objectives. Finally for now,

Pat, this first session is very much a test session before you get into

serious stuff - are you doing any work today towards next year's car?

Yes, there are some components on the cars which we hope to introduce

next year. I think that is quite a general thing with a lot of the

teams. Thank you very much for joining us. So, Pat Simmons

teams. Thank you very much for chief technical officer for Williams

having us a bit of an chief technical officer for Williams

the approach for this weekend. Tony, it has come to blows a couple of

times, the confrontation between the 2 Finns. Indeed, and he said

yesterday, he wants to do it fair and square on the track. He had good

pace here last year and he will give it everything. In reality, he should

not be anywhere near Kimi. If you look at what Vettel has done. That's

right. Ferrari has been the stronger car. So if Bottas was able to beat

Kimi on the track, it would be quite something. We can go back now to

some of the interviews we did yesterday. We caught up with

Fernando Alonso. It has not been a great year for him. Plenty of you

have said he has been one of your stars of the year because of his

patience. But he is going to have his lowest score in Formula

patience. But he is going to have he first came to the Championship

with Minardi. What has his he first came to the Championship

reaction to that? Even in the worst season of my career we have had some

good results. Because at Minardi you would not expect to score so it is a

different mentality. So it has been a difficult season in terms of

results to see a difficult season in terms of

in terms of learning a lot with the team, the McLaren philosophy of

developing the car is quite difficult to what I was used to. A

lot of learning from the Honda approach and the Honda discipline

and profession are lucky in difficult times. -- and

professionalism in difficult times. People say that what does not kill

you makes you stronger and I think we are alive so I think we will be

very strong. So, Fernando giving lots of positives, Tony. A couple of

times this year he has been fairly vocal on the radio about the lack of

performance but he does seem to be a bit more uniting the team at this

stage? Yes, hedonist. -- yes, he does. When you back to earlier in

the season everybody was saying, what have you done? He said, I know

what I have done. I am not going to win the championship this year. The

only took the Mercedes is to have a different approach, come in with a

new And develop it from the start and I have taken on a new challenge

which hopefully will give the opportunity to meet a win that third

world title. The first one since 2006. It has been a long old gap.

But next year, will he have the car to do it? Ferrari are definitely

positioning themselves to be Mercedes' main rival once again. But

they would hope that much closer again next year.

We just heard from Felipe Massa's technical boss, Pat Symonds, after

the disappointment of Brazil. Hopefully they can put that behind

them and he can finish the season on a strong note. They were double

podium finishes and Bottas actually had a poor start, Rob and with a

clutch off the line. He was able to find his way back and get that third

place. Further down the order, Sauber have had a bit of a mixed

season, I would say. We just saw Marcus Ericsson. They started the

season well with a car that clearly had reliability and some

performance, a much better car than 2014 when they scored nothing at

all. Ericsson had a string of point-scoring results but they

haven't really maintained that form throughout the year. Yellow they

haven't. A lot of that initial movement came from the improved

Ferrari power unit. They were not totally convinced about it. It was

Singapore, they had not developed it. It was the first time on that

kind of circuit and they were in two minds as to how effective it was all

so they did not have the budget of a lot of the top teams to carry on

that sort of lot of the top teams to carry on

massively better than last year but they ran out of puff a bit. We will

see how they finish of the season. they ran out of puff a bit. We will

Fernando Alonso was asked in a press conference yesterday if there was

any chance of McLaren speaking ahead of Sauber in the final points after

this race. It's not impossible mathematically, nine points is what

separates Sauber and McLaren, but it would need a miracle I think for

effectively both to score big points. McLaren will end the season

last but one in the Constructors' Championship. Manor Marussia have

failed to score any bump points and McLaren are ahead of only them. Both

cars have only scored points on six occasions for McLaren and it would

need something like the hungry result, the Budapest result, where

Fernando scored ten points, that kind of thing. It's not particularly

likely. Felipe Nasr has raised here in GP2. Max Verstappen has been

getting credit for the Rookie of the year, but Felipe Nasr deserves a lot

of credit. The best debut year, but Felipe Nasr deserves a lot

Brazilian driver in Formula 1, which is quite some achievement, but

hasn't been able to back it up. Has been a reasonably impressive debut

season for Felipe Nasr. Both have signed again for next year, Ericsson

and Felipe Nasr, and I think that's good. There have been some braking

issues. I think they were going in the right direction with the Aero

dive filament but it wasn't working. There have been a number of

different factors involved in them losing their way, not just the

team. He is a rookie with a fairly inexperienced race engineer. That

whole thing has made inexperienced race engineer. That

difficult. Allen, just talking about some of the younger drivers, but I

wanted to talk about the fact that it's quite quiet out there at the

moment. 19 cars in the pits and one can't track, Fernando Alonso. Why is

it as quiet as this? Is it because this session is a little less

relevant than the others? It is because Nico Rosberg has just gone

out of the pit lane and through the tunnel and out onto the track, but

it is a couple of things... One is that it is a bit less relevant

because of the time of day. The other is that the circuit is a bit

dirty and dusty and nobody wants to be the guy that cleans up the track

and uses the best out of his tyres. The optimum performance window is

quite narrow. Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg's team-mate obviously, has

been doing Rosberg's team-mate obviously, has

adjustments. Taking this opportunity Rosberg's team-mate obviously, has

and to make larger changes. He made an adjustment to the front

suspension is actually in the foot well area, the third element that

connects both sides of the car together. As well as that, at the

beginning of the session he was sitting a bit higher and they were

changing the seat. There was something near his shoulders that

may have been putting him a touch forward. Now he's stabbing itself

into the car. 45 minutes of the session gone, 45 to go, it looks

like there will session gone, 45 to go, it looks

out on the track in the next few minutes. That's good news for us.

Fernando Alonso has been detaining us for a while but it would be good

to see a few more cars on the circuit here.

to see a few more cars on the Carlos Sainz on track. Rosberg is

out there as well. A bit more activity. The shadow is beginning to

lengthen a touch. It's only 1:45pm. Later on they will be running around

the time of the Grand Prix start, 5pm local time on Sunday, going into

darkness, which is a key feature of this race. Alonso goes eighth

fastest on that lap, his best lap of the session so far. Just beginning

to put together a few laps. He's done a reasonable number, ten laps

in total. Rosberg has done more labs than anyone else so far in this

session. There is the German, on this great role of results. He's had

the last five pole positions in a row, very impressive indeed. He led

his 1000th lab in Formula 1 in his career last time out in Brazil. He

has never had a hat-trick of wins, Tony. That has got to be his target

this weekend. It has, to keep this momentum going. When you had the

kind of season he's had, it's almost like getting hit over the head with

a baseball bat, going head-to-head with Lewis Hamilton race after race

and coming second. The best thing for him is to finish the season in

the ascendancy, on a roll, and if he could underline it with a third win

here, he might head into next year thinking I can do this. Let's see

what he did down into Turn 1 a moment ago. A bit wide. We saw

Roberto Merhi go wide earlier. Nothing really to get too excited

about. Thanks your comments coming in using the BBC F1. A lot of you

going for Max Verstappen is your star of the season. But one or two

of you going for Lewis Hamilton. Julie saying the star of the season

has to be Lewis Hamilton, winning his third World Championship, and

Mercedes as the winning team. They certainly have dominated proceedings

this year. Lewis Hamilton looking to match the record of podium finishes

scored in one year. He's trying to get the 17 to match the existing

record and he's looking to trying get 18 front row starts as well. It

really has been a remarkable year for him. Liability has been great,

with one non-finish. Even that didn't hurt him so much because that

was at a track where they were struggling anyway and Rosberg was

not able to take advantage of it double yellow he's been fortunate

from that perspective. He's been fortunate from that perspective. I

think we've got a really strong depth of talent in Formula 1 right

now, nine Grand Prix winners, another five or six people who you

would not argue if they won a Grand Prix that it would not be expected.

One of your role is of course is as editor of the Auto course annual

which comes out every year rounding up everything in Formula 1. One

thing I'll is look for, and I won't ask you to give it to us, is the top

ten. The drivers's top ten of 2015, has it been difficult or easy to

work out? It easy to work out number one! It's quite hard to work out

where to put Max Verstappen, and it's quite hard to think who should

be numb ten. The rest of them seem to slot into place. It's quite hard

to work out what to do with the McLaren drivers because it has got

to reflect what they have done with what they have had. I look forward

with interest to finding out how the top ten drivers get rated. We will

see how that works. Lee Peterson has just tweeted hashtag BBC F1 that

Carlos Sainz Junior is driver of the year on his points of view. Everyone

has their own opinion and that is great, that is what makes Formula 1

exciting and fun, we all have our own favourites if you like and that

is part of the game. That's not a bad call. His season has been a lot

better than a lot of people appreciate, I think. When you look

at their respective performances, if you actually

at their respective performances, if sessions where they haven't done it

for one reason or another, the car has been unreliable... If you strip

that away, 6-6. At the start of the season Carlos Sainz was more

impressive in qualifying, in the second half of the

impressive in qualifying, in the Verstappen, but Carlos Sainz has

been very Verstappen, but Carlos Sainz has

has been less lucky in Verstappen, but Carlos Sainz has

luck when it comes to the car finishing races. Carlos Sainz barely

started last time out in Brazil, they could not get the car running

and then when they did it stopped on the opening lap. That was a shame.

He has done some very good sessions in the wet this

He has done some very good sessions after he changed the brake balance.

There are a -- enough clues there. Nico Hulkenberg currently fourth

fastest in this first free practice session from Abu Dhabi, the season

finale. But while the championship is all settled at the top, there are

still some positions up for grabs like 10th place, where Nico

Hulkenberg hangs on to it at the moment. Verstappen sits ahead of

Romain Grosjean in terms of finishing positions through the

year. But it is going to be tied between them. Right now you've got

to say that Hulkenberg is looking good because he is fastest in the

speed track and fourth in the standings here at the moment. If he

can put together a solid race, you would think that with the Force

India around this track he is probably well-placed to hang on to

10th place in the championship. I would agree with that because it's

going to be hard to pass that car. The overtaking areas down

going to be hard to pass that car. and 11, he's going to have strong

going to be hard to pass that car. straight-line speed and it will be

tough for straight-line speed and it will be

behind him. Grosjean has a Mercedes engine as well but it's about

behind him. Grosjean has a Mercedes they have run out of development

money. Hulkenberg is behind his team-mate in the championship,

Verstappen desperately want it and Grosjean wants to finish strongly as

well. There will be a big scrap for that. Plenty to play for. For Lotus,

this will be their last outing with Mercedes-Benz Power which is a bit

odd because we've only had it for one year.

RADIO: Yeah, they should have one year.

you pass. Frustration there for Nico Hulkenberg, getting caught in

traffic. Sergio Perez improves on that lap so he goes fourth fastest.

He was commenting yesterday that he still feels that this is probably

his best ever season in Formula 1, not necessarily in terms of

results, because McLaren gave him a view highlights on the podium, but

in a team that is less expected to get them, he feels he has driven

well throughout the season. They will be pleased with the job he has

put together. Ricciardo has improved. He has

put together. Ricciardo has previous specification on Renault

engine. Those of you who followed our coverage in Brazil, the new and

updated our coverage in Brazil, the new and

they felt there was not much our coverage in Brazil, the new and

from it at also he is back to the original earlier version of that

engine. Daniil Kvyat, his team-mate, he has had a good solid end to the

season with a string of fourth-place finishes. He goes across the line

and moves up to fourth place. finishes. He goes across the line

looks like Kvyat is likely to outscore Ricciardo this year.

Working really well. Copy that, Marcus. I think Ericsson was talking

about the tyre temperatures... I think Daniil Kvyat has had a very

good year. He got the rough end of the deal at the start... Since

Bull have developed that car, actually they have probably

developed it too well because they have scared away Mercedes, giving

them an engine with their performance at the Spa and they

probably scared Ferrari... As that has the better he has had a strong

finish to the year and he was unlucky not to get a podium in

Mexico I thought, because he deserved that but the late Lady

Carper Valtteri Bottas and the Mercedes... I think that was

probably 's best right. He was behind Ricciardo on that occasion.

Overall very strong. Ricciardo yesterday himself was asked

whether, how he would rate Kvyat against Vettel. He said that Daniil

Kvyat could be competitive. So he rates him. Alan has gone up too fine

a different view of the circuit. Where are you watching from?

I am in the pit lane, between the second last corner and the final

corner, which I think will be quite tricky tomorrow. Because the second

last corner is very, very quick. The final corner is extremely tricky and

it is one the drivers were having a discussion on. Charlie Whiting was

telling them in the drivers meeting that...

RADIO: Understood, will look. Anyway, that last corner, as

Raikkonen now comes past, is one where if you get it right on entry,

which is critical, then you can make a clean exit. If you miss that

entry, the exit is very difficult. They will be looking at it in

qualifying to make sure they do not run wide out of the final corner.

That is a good point. Lots of you commenting on your stars of the

season. Of course, all with different ideas. We were speaking

about Kvyat, and one says, Kvyat is my star of the season. All of you

have got your favourites. Will Stevens' team radio is my star of

the season, says Libby. And John from Mansfield says, Grosjean lost

every practice session and still slaughtered Maldonado, he says. We

will see if he holds onto that in this final Grand Prix. Yes, great

achievement when you mess a lot of Free Practice 1. Lots of you have

your ideas. Thanks for telling us about them. Part of Formula 1 of

course is trying to rate the drivers in different equipment. Max Mosley

suggested about ten years ago, when it was part of a huge thing that

nobody would accept in order to get a smaller thing through, but he said

we should rotate the drivers. 20 cars, 20 races, they all drive each

car twice the year. They do not work for the teams. They are paid on

results only. I think that would be brilliant but a lot of people do not

seem to agree. A bit of a close moment there between Alonso and

Raikkonen in the Ferrari. Raikkonen just about able to squeeze around

the outside of his former team-mate from last year of course.

Interesting idea that, Tony, rotating the drivers, but I don't

think it will happen. The top teams want to keep their star drivers. And

the top Wimpole want the top cars. Yes, they do not want to end up at

the back of the grid. Although that is exactly what Alonso has done this

year! Even if he feels for the future it was the right thing to do.

Alan, did you see Hamilton come through there? He has just gone

fastest again. It does not surprise me. He was building up in the

previous lap. It is his speed into the final corner which seems to be

so much quicker than anybody else. Admittedly the 2 Mercedes do look

good. The Red Bull also looks good. Daniel Ricciardo seemed to be quick

into the apex. Jenson Button has just gone through. The time between

when they turn in and when they start to pick up the throttle is the

period when the Mercedes and the Red Bull seem to have a big advantage

over everybody else, probably 6ft MH faster into that point. -- 6kh/h.

Slight hybrid problem for Raikkonen but hopefully that is solved. So,

Hamilton has recently gone fastest. Rosberg just one tenth behind.

Lovely slow-mo of Hamilton applying the opposite lock there. Lovely bit

of car control. Beautifully done. Behind Ricciardo we have got Perez

in sixth place, Hulkenberg in seventh.

Massa is only 15th at the moment. But is now down in six tenths. Will

Stevens is 18ft. Just a bit faster than his team-mate, Roberto Merhi.

Sebastian Vettel on circuit right now. You get the feeling, Tony, that

Ferrari coming into this final race with a sense of optimism that they

might be able to get a bit closer to Mercedes van at some of the tracks?

Yes, it will be interesting to see. Sebastien is another one who is

very, very special around here. He likes it. If Mercedes dropped off at

all he will be right there. Vettel as you

all he will be right there. Vettel record around this circuit.

all he will be right there. Vettel dominated distract along with

Hamilton in recent years. Three wins to Vettel, two to Hamilton. The only

time it was not won by one of them was when Hamilton broke down and

Raikkonen earned. RADIO: Knows box change. Presumably

they will RADIO: Knows box change. Presumably

quickly. Track temperatures have remained very consistent throughout

this session so far. Still 35 degrees. Going back to last year, we

are just a little bit off the fastest time from last year. It was

Hamilton at one minute 43.4. And the track temperature was higher, at 45

degrees. We are not far of this early stage. A lot of it can

depend on how dirty the track is as well. Felipe Nasr about to complete

a lap here, who moves him up to well. Felipe Nasr about to complete

place. Alan, are you seeing any differences or anything more

notable? Well, I have actually just started walking up towards the

second last corner, to the apex, and you can get to within about 2-3

metres of the apex point. I will give you some information when I

have got myself into position. At the moment they are seem to be just

building up, they seem to be doing one fast lap and one slow lap. I'm

not sure if that is just for the tyres but also for track

positioning, weird the traffic. OK, so we will come back to you. Maybe

some harvesting of the electoral -- electrical power also going on. Big

some harvesting of the electoral -- towards the chicane at turn five and

turn six. towards the chicane at turn five and

required. Will Stevens made his debut here last year the Caterham.

They managed to get a kind of crowdfunding deal together. But

They managed to get a kind of sadly the team did exit Formula 1

after that. So, he has driven here before. Has he delivered enough, do

you think, the British driver, for him to come back, or is it dependent

on budget? I think that will be critical. I think he has done a

decent job but they are so far off, it is difficult to tell. He is only

ever racing the other Marussia. He did say perhaps in the early part of

the season he was a bit too intent on beating his team-mate in

qualifying and of course missed out sometimes in the race if he did not

have the balance set up for the distance. I think that is what

happens. They know that people look down the grid and compare times from

qualifying. And then in the race, they get forgotten about because

they are not part of the main race. So there is a temptation to set it

up for that one lap and then probably wear the tyres out in the

race. On the Alejandro Balbi Merry said he had got a grasp of that in

his previous racing and has always tried to do that. -- on the other

hand, Roberto Merhi said... Ultimately what the teams care about

is where you finish in Ultimately what the teams care about

because that always means points and prize money. It is race results

which really count. You do wonder whether a little bit they stick

takes the swing we have seen in qualifying between Lewis

takes the swing we have seen in That's right. Certainly last year

Lewis focused on race That's right. Certainly last year

REFEREE: Yes, it may well be that. Jenson Button just reporting some

lock-ups going on at this stage. We have got another vote for Sebastian

Vettel in your star of the year. And Vettel was talking about that

yesterday, saying that he did learn a lot from 2014. He knew it was a

below par season from his point of view. He found the car difficult to

get on with. They have very restrictive testing, Red Bull, at

the beginning of 2014, and he never really got the weather with the

car. But he said that as soon as he got into the Ferrari for testing at

the start of this year he felt right at home with it. That's true. He has

always been pretty candid about his own performance. Racing against Mark

Webber he would often tell the media, I could often see that Mark

was quicker than me in fast corners but I was quicker than him in slow

and medium stuff. And when he found himself with Ricciardo in Montreal I

think, he said, he seems to be quicker everywhere! He is always

honest. He rates his own year this year between seven and nine. And

Kimi Raikkonen was asked and he said, pretty average. Vettel told us

there were even moments he doubted himself during 2014. Don't forget,

we do have an F1 review show on BBC One on the 12th of December at

lunchtime. That is at one o'clock, I believe. Analysing what happened

this season far Hamilton and where perhaps some of the others got it a

bit wrong. So, 12th of December is the date for your diary for that F1

review. Before that we have got this final Grand Prix of the season to

look forward to at this stunning Yas Marina circuit. It has had a lot of

money spent on it and it provides a breathtaking backdrop. It usually

has a capacity crowd and I think they are sold out again. Capacity is

around 60,000. Not as big as it is at some other circuits. It is all

seated. But it is one of the biggest hospitality venues of the season. A

very important part of the F1 calendar. It is the season finale,

as it has been on quite a few occasions in recent years. Some

wheel spin from Jenson Button as he left the pits. Hamilton is still

fastest with that one minute 43.7. Rosberg just a fraction slower.

Raikkonen still third, Kvyat fourth. There is a couple of guys going a

bit quicker in the first sector now. But it is unlikely now that anyone

will go quicker than Hamilton's time. Vettel down in eighth at the

moment. Maldonado of course has had quite a lot of non-finishes but he

has put together some better results recently. He has now got points in

six races this year, which is more than he has ever done before. So

although he has had some difficult moments, things have got better. If

you compare his results with Romain Grosjean and take out Romain

Grosjean's third-place out of the equation but and that was a great

result of course to see the comparison is not that different.

No, but occasionally he will do something inexpressible, which makes

them put their head in their hands on the pit wall. Whereas in the race

Romain Grosjean does not tend to do that.

There is no doubt in qualifying Maldonado has been truly eclipsed by

his team-mate. But don't forget that team has been running on a tight

budget and they have not had the money to spend on the cards as they

would have liked. They came up with a very good design in the first

place. The stabbing came out with Massa joining on and they have had

to run side-by-side. If somebody doesn't back off it is potentially

an accident. You have to be careful. Danny Ricciardo has just come back

out on circuit. There are two massively long straights here and

the highest speeds we have seen today down the end of this one, 330

kilometres per hour. Talking of speeds, we're not going to quite see

the record speed of the season beaten, but it is Pastor Maldonado

who will end up with the fastest speed of the season and of course

that was in Mexico when we were in the thinner air and he managed to do

227 mph, which was 366 kilometres per hour. We're not going to beat

that record, that will be held by Pastor Maldonado for a year as

fastest in a straight line, in the Mexican Grand Prix weekend.

Hulkenberg very quick, Perez 3.30, Hamilton 3.30. Felipe Massa 3.28.

You have got Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari on 3.27. The other amazing

thing about Mercedes engines, not only have they readily topped the

speed figures but not a single Mercedes engine car has had a grid

penalty for extra engine parts used this year. When you think how many

engines some of the others have had to use, Alonzo is on his 12th engine

for goodness's sake, it is just remarkable that Mercedes have got

through this entire season, so far, it could still go wrong, but so far

absolutely no grid penalties for any Mercedes user when it comes to

engine parts. It is Mercedes user when it comes to

isn't it? Alonzo, 12 internal combustion engines, that is three

seasons's worth. Astonishing. We're watching Felipe Massa now. He's been

in the pits for a little while but he is someone who can well improve

on that lap time because he has been in the pits for a long time and it

may well be that the track is now cleared up and they

may well be that the track is now programme going here where he could

move up that order somewhat, down in 17th place at the moment, just ahead

of the two Manor Marussia cars. There was a practice session for the

GP2s earlier. A man who is rumoured a part of the Mercedes set up going

into the future. Maldonado won nine GP2 races and it took him four

years. They will be watching him, he's going to have a campaign out in

Japan in the single seater series out there. I gather he had some

Honda engine problems for his test! That is not what he wanted!

Definitely a name to watch out for the future, the Belgian now part of

the team. A couple of other driver announcements, reserve drivers

coming onto the scene as well, an announcement of the development

driver for the Williams team. He was formerly a Ferrari Academy driver.

He's come across to Williams and he's been doing the European Formula

3 championship I think. RADIO: Chassis default 03 to off,

please. Copy, copy. A bit of feedback from Nico Rosberg. Talking

of drivers, also just to note that Alfonso Junior, the 19-year-old

Mexican joining Force India. There is a tyre test here at Abu Dhabi

after the grand brake, and Alfonso has been racing in GP three and the

3.5 championship and he will probably carry on with that series

next year but he will get to drive for Force India. He hasn't got a

sparkling record, has he? He is Mexican and has Mexican links with

that team. New drivers always knocking on the

door to get to Formula 1 but it's very difficult to brake through with

although you have to say that although several of them have

renewed their contracts for next year, the likes of Kimi Raikkonen

and Jenson Button, who must be nearing the end of their careers,

I'm not saying it's necessarily their final year next year and

you've got to think not to many more years for Jenson Button and Kimi

Raikkonen, and there will be some opportunities arising. Next year we

might see a bit of a shuffling of the pack. Yes, the driver market two

thirds of the way through 2016 will be very intriguing. Valtteri Bottas

is one of the drivers who might move next year but for now he sticks with

Williams. Some of you might have noticed that the colour scheme on

the car is slightly different this year, no alcohol sponsorship allowed

in the Gulf region, so some of the colours on the cards and the names

will be slightly different. Sebastian Vettel can't be bothered

to take his crash helmet of, so he makes his notes. He always does

this, hand written notes for the race engineers. He just likes to

take himself off to a quiet space and write down his thoughts on the

car's behaviour at various points around the circuit. He obviously

finds it easier to process it by writing it down. For Sebastian, that

is part of his analysis. It's interesting to see that. Because you

do forget things, don't you? As soon as he gets out of the car, he wants

to write it down. Lewis Hamilton on track. Felipe Massa has gone up to

10th place now after filling in some labs fairly late in this session. It

has been a pretty untroubled session for most. Only Jolie and Palmer who

has missed out entirely, no lapse at all, but everyone else has managed

to put in at least 12-14 laps and with the top campaigners if you like

getting in nearly 30 laps. Rosberg has done 27 laps in the hour and a

half we have had. I say that but Palmer has just gone out! They said

earlier on they didn't think they would get him out, but as I speak

Palmer has just exited the pit lane. That's good news, at least he will

get a view laps in. I imagine it is just a lap of installation, to make

sure everything is OK. He's had it just a lap of installation, to make

happened to him so many times this year. The reigning GP2 champion, he

would have hoped to get a lot more circuit experience than he has done

this year. I think they have done brilliantly to secure a seat in

Formula 1, it was always going to be tough. Whether you bring money or

not, it's irrelevant. It's getting in there, you've got to get your

foot in the door and fair play to them it's exactly what they've done.

Right. He's not French and there's talk about Renault going back and

Jean-Eric Vergne... It was not a done deal by Eric -- any means.

Hamilton continues on what is a very long run of laps at the moment. The

last one was a 1:49.0, a long way off the fastest lap that he did

earlier on. 1:43.7 still the fastest lap of this session. Valtteri Bottas

out on circuit just a moment ago. Looking at some of your comments

coming in using the hashtag BBC F1 and in fact we were talking about

Stoffel Vandoorne and one of you wants to nominate him for driver of

the year! Maldonado had ten overall GP2 wins. Stoffel Vandoorne also on

ten, nine of which were feature race wins. Lead of you enjoy the GP2

series which is nice to see, a vital feed into the world of Formula 1.

Delighted to see that the champion of last year, Parma, is going to be

making the big step up to F1. It looks like Stoffel Vandoorne will

get that opportunity within the next year or so. Let's just watch Palmer

around the lap. He has been here in the past so he should be able to get

onto the pace reasonably quickly. The track has been cleaned up by

everyone else. The point you make about getting your foot in the door

is just so important. And once you've got there, staying there.

That what has happened to Kevin Magnussen. He did formula 3.5 at the

same time as Stoffel Vandoorne and they were splitting wins and what

have you and it was hard to choose between who was most impressive.

Kevin had a bit more experience and there he is, as of the end of

September he is with McLaren. But he deserves a seat at the top table.

It's not only getting in but staying in. I would love to see Kevin

Magnussen in a Formula 1 car, he deserves to be in after the

performances he put in as Jenson Button's team-mate last year. But

how quickly you can be forgotten. It's such a tough world. He ended up

on the podium in his first race for McLaren-Mercedes as it was then. Now

it seems such a dissident past, a McLaren on the podium -- a McLaren

on the podium and Kevin Magnussen driving. Palmer goes 18 fastest.

That puts him ahead of the two Manor Marussias at the moment. Let's hope

he gets a couple more laps in Marussias at the moment. Let's hope

the chequered flag comes out of this session. Valtteri Bottas 12th

fastest so far, head of the two McLaren Hondas. They read too much

into the fact that Williams not shining at the moment, this is

standard practice. Williams never emerge on top of time sheets really.

They always seem to work with the car running a bit more fuel, making

the car heavier and slower. RADIO: Nico, box, box, box. We have

low rear pressure. Box, box, box. The tyre pressure monitor that has

been picked up why Mercedes on the pit wall, they want to bring that

car back in and he has done plenty of laps so far in this session.

Looking back at Pastor Maldonado and he had one of his best ever weekends

in Formula 1 a few years ago, back in 2012, the year that he scored

that remarkable win in Barcelona and went through a long string of

non-finishes and problems. He actually qualified in third place

that year and ended up finishing fifth despite losing the KERS in the

car. Evidence of the up and down nature of the car for Pastor

Maldonado. Last year it ended in an engine fire, so it didn't work out

for him last season. He likes these kind of tracks, he's always been

quick around Monaco. He's gone well kind of tracks, he's always been

here, you're right. If he can support Romain Grosjean here this

weekend as well, that would be another benefit for Lotus and

hopefully maximising those Constructors' Championship points.

We will see how they get on. Lotus against Toro Rosso is still open, to

see which of the two teams come out on top. Lotus have the edge with a

9-point lead. But you wouldn't rely on Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz

not doing a first-class job here. Not quite there from Maldonado.

Daniil Kvyat here last year was very good. He qualified fifth but then

had a problem in the race and did not get the points after all, but

you're right, the pace was there. not get the points after all, but

But potentially Verstappen and Carlos Sainz could be up there in

the top ten and mixing it with Lotus. Stephen asking about our

coverage of FP2. We will be on the red button for our coverage of FP2.

That was Palmer! That was funny, seeing Maldonado put a wheel on the

edge and almost at the same time Jolie and Palmer had a spin.

RADIO: OK? Dealt with it no problem. Kept out of the way Sebastian Vettel

as he rejoined, but obviously a bit more slippery than both Lotus

drivers were expecting. Thankfully no problems for Jolie and Palmer and

he stays a bit more slippery than both Lotus drivers were expecting.

Thankfully no problems for Jolie and Palmer and he stayed 18th at the

Sebastian Vettel is eighth fastest moment.

Sebastian Vettel is eighth fastest in this session. Ferrari yet to win

around this circuit. Mercedes had their first win here last year, with

Hamilton. It has only ever been won from pole position on one occasion,

which was by Sebastian Vettel in 2010. It is an odd statistic on a

track like this where you do not get a huge amount of overtaking. Yes, it

is surprising. But I think it has generally come from the front row.

Yes, it has often been the outside of the front row. Hamilton was on

the outside of the front row last year. And it has also come down to

the fact that there have been some odd reliability problems for pole

winners here in the past. RADIO: The car is not feeling good.

Was it the car or the tyres? I think it was the car. Not totally at ease

today but still fastest. They will almost definitely go faster later

because the track temperature will be lower and they will be on the

super-softs tyre, which could be worth even up to a second more. Last

year we saw 1.3 seconds between worth even up to a second more. Last

first two sessions. I would imagine something similar when we see the

cars back out again later today. Down to this she came before the

hairpin. You can see Ferrari World in the background. The

roller-coaster ride. There is a good viewing point, in this stadium

section around the hairpin. And then it all opens up onto this long, long

straight. They are on full throttle for around 14 seconds. Although you

would think it means it is tough on fuel economy, it is actually the

last part of the lap which makes this circuit reasonably tough on

fuel economy, because it is on and off the throttle all the time. Oh,

dear, Alonso is having a problem with power in his McLaren. Let's

hope he can make it back to the pits. As we go on board with Kimi,

who is going over the kerbs. As pits. As we go on board with Kimi,

go on board with him now in this section.

That's a shame. I was hoping he was going to do the complete lap, but it

is nice to be on board with him. By the way, next year, some

is nice to be on board with him. By rules in terms the exhaust pipes. It

will be a separate pipe effectively exceeding the exhaust. And Mercedes

told me that it will change the quality of the sound. It will be

louder. It will not suddenly make these cars as loud for example is

the V8s were but they said these cars as loud for example is

of the noise in Formula 1 next year. That is one of the commitments they

have been tasked with, coming back by January with these proposals look

at twice engines plus engines which sound better. That's right. Some

more comments coming in from you. But was a good burn-out by Max

Verstappen. They have got a drag straight here at Abu Dhabi! He could

go and enjoy himself on that! Dave says, the star of the season has to

be the Lotus mechanics, who have had a difficult year. And Dave, I think

that is a really good comment. They have had a tough year. Having to

work much deeper into the night and a lot of the other guys in the pit

lane. I applaud your sentiments entirely. And recently having to

borrow a cup of coffee from the garage next door. Yes, it has not

been easy at all for the Lotus guys. But they go into it every time with

the same But they go into it every time with

work done. Chequered flag is out. So, the first session has come to a

conclusion. 2.30 in the afternoon, local time. It will be going into

dusk when we get the second session and away. The Times show asked that

once again Mercedes, as expected, are favourites for this weekend.

Raikkonen showing that Ferrari are likely to be their closest

challengers. A good lap from Kvyat as well. So, Red Bull and Ferrari in

the next. -- in the mix. Mercedes engined cars definitely looking

strong. Palmer in the end was 18ft. And Will

Stevens ended up about a second faster than Roberto Merhi in the

end. We will see how that little private battle develops during the

rest of the weekend. Hamilton diving beneath the bridge of the hotel,

which will be lit up later tonight. Hamilton has not had the perfect

session but I don't think he will be too worried. He has set the fastest

lap. He has had a couple too worried. He has set the fastest

with the feel of the car, with his seating position, but there is

plenty of time for the mechanics to get to work before later on, when

they get to try the super-softs tyre for the first time. And they will be

getting into slightly longer sessions out on track and we will

get a better idea of the actual race pace. Tony, anything to make a note

of so far today? I like the look of Kvyat's time. He is two tenths

behind Raikkonen, and quicker than Vettel. I think

behind Raikkonen, and quicker than Vettel. I think it is promising.

Raikkonen still cruising back to the pits. He has got just a few more

corners to go. Coming past the hotel. He has ended up as the

nearest challenger to Mercedes. It often seems to be the case that

Vettel is not too worried about the headline times when it comes to

qualifying. -- when it comes to qualifying it is usually a different

story. Only three times this year has Raikkonen managed to beat his

team-mate. Pastor Maldonado, good run from him.

But I think Williams have got some more pace hidden away, as we usually

see on the Friday. Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso, very evenly matched

once again. Jolyon Palmer getting out for a total of nine laps in the

end. So that is how the first session has come to a conclusion,

still in bright sunshine. A lovely day here at the Yas Marina circuit.

Hamilton on top once again. Surprise, surprise, it is tight

again between the Mercedes drivers. I think Hamilton should be happy.

Even though he did not sound happy with his seat and steering wheel and

the car in general on the radio? GSA was grumbling a bit and he did not

have the rhythm. The card did look a bit unstable. Very fast, no

question. But if there was consistency, it was on Nico

Rosberg's side of the garage. Through the last couple of corners

he looked as if he was more at one with the car. We have seen this

quite a lot. Round here I think you do need a car which is slightly

unstable if you want it to be very fast. We do not always seek Kimi

Raikkonen as the strongest Ferrari driver but we know he likes this

track. He is seven tenths behind the lead Mercedes, but I think that

gives a lot of confidence to Ferrari. If you also think about

Williams as well, they should be in there. I think about battle will be

quite tight. -- I think that battle. Just one point at the moment between

Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen. Do you think they will battle it out

to the end? It is when the chequered flag drops, that is when you will

know who will have that place. I would say right now, Bottas has the

upper hand. Williams probably should have won the race in reality last

year. This time, they can roll the dice and Bottas for sure will go for

it. Do not discount Massa but he is there to back up Bottas. We thought

we would have a session without any bad news for McLaren. But with just

two minutes to go, Alonso comes on the radio and says he has got a

power problem! It is almost predictable! Yes, Tony mentioned, is

wasn't on their 2018 engine allocation right now. It is almost

insane. I was watching Jenson rather than Fernando on track. And he was

really throwing it around. It was good to see him getting stuck in.

When Jenson gets the fire in his obviously,, then he will go for it.

They seem to be well grouped at the moment, they seem to be singing from

the same page - is their progress from Honda? We will know that in the

first test 2016. They have got a lot of work to do. They are behind

first test 2016. They have got a lot nearly every area, especially with

the energy recovery from the turbo. That is where they will have to do

most of their development work. Like I say, we will only know when we get

into 2016. But everybody else is moving forward as well. Ben was

talking about this season review which you can see on the 12th of

December. We have been doing a lot of extra interviews for that and

getting the drivers and team bosses to sum up their season. Who do you

think should be leaving this paddock happy apart from Mercedes? I think

Ferrari. They have happy apart from Mercedes? I think

this year. Also the energy in the team since Sebastian Vettel has gone

there. Also Toro Rosso has done very well. They have brought two young

drivers in. One had question marks over his ability even to drive a

Formula 1 car. He did not even have a driving licence at the beginning

of the year. They have been a revelation. Also forced India,

because they have punched above their weight. Everybody else has

either been stable, like Williams, all gone backwards, like Red Bull.

People fought Sebastian Vettel was just a kid who had grown up at Red

Bull. But Ferrari say he is an incredible team leader. Were you

expecting that kind of praise for him? You do not win multiple World

Championships by accident. You have to have something. You have got to

have talent on the circuit. You have got to be able to get a team to

follow you. That is something Fernando Alonso clearly has. However

he is very decisive. I think for Vettel to go there,

he is very decisive. I think for antidote to Alonso in a way. He

gelled the team around him. Also he did not have too much competition

with Kimi Raikkonen as well. did not have too much competition

surprising is how much a German has been loved in an Italian

environment. He has learned the language and things like that. They

will adore him from now until eternity. And if he wins a World

Championship, well... eternity. And if he wins a World

Raikkonen are close friends, they play badminton twice a week,

apparently. Kimi says it is the best atmosphere he has experienced at

Ferrari. It is the most relaxed. If you go back to when he won his World

Championship, there was a lot you go back to when he won his World

pressure on him. This time he knows that Sebastian Vettel is the key

player. And with Alonso, I don't think it was a happy team. They have

a lot of leader changes in the team as a whole. -- they went through a

lot of leader changes. But now it seems they have got a vision towards

the future. We spoke during the programme about what a testing week

it has been for Lotus. I am delighted to say, Jolyon Palmer is

here now. A testing session for you, not as many laps as you had hoped?

Yes, we had a water leak at the start and we found it this morning.

It is quite a big change really. We lost a lot of time and just made

It is quite a big change really. We to crack on

It is quite a big change really. We than nothing, at least. Pastor

It is quite a big change really. We Maldonado was quite quick - what do

To be honest I think the last few you think we can expect

To be honest I think the last few weekends have been pretty testing,

and the results have been all right. The hope is the same as always,

hopefully we can get at least one car in the top ten in qualifying and

certainly be racing towards the points. Next time you're in this

Keitany race weekend you will be a Formula 1 driver!

Keitany race weekend you will be a feel? Really good. Since that's been

announced I've had a few weekends and everyone is sort of taking it up

and ready for Melbourne. I last weekend as reserve driver. I mean,

I've enjoyed it, it's been a good learning year and it's been good fun

as well with the team, but next year I'm really looking forward to it, it

will be special. What do you think the biggest challenge will be?

You've been here with the team and seen how it operates and you still

conduct yourself as a Formula 1 driver, but what is the transition?

I'm hopefully going to be pretty solid at FP1s now! I know what to

expect in terms of the preparation and how the weekend runs. It's been

a good learning year and not much is going to be new to me, so that is

the benefit. Of course the life of the race driver is different, it's

going to be a lot busier, which is good. I'm just really looking

forward to racing wheel-to-wheel again. It's nice to see some cars

out there in FP1 but I'm looking forward to racing and going

wheel-to-wheel again. We have got one of your off-track moments. What

happened here? I was over steering to say the least! FP1 it always is.

But when you have a few laps to try and put in a time... I'm quite happy

with that little spin turn though, that was all right! It was a neat

recovery. That part of the circuit there are a lot of adverse camber is

on it and it's difficult to get right, did you find it especially

difficult today? Absolutely. It's always difficult and in qualifying

and when the race is on its getting towards night-time, the rubber goes

on but also the temperatures cool off a bit and the rear tyres, the

torque of these card is exceptional and in these temperatures the rear

tyre temperatures goes through the roof. You need a lot of traction and

I didn't have a lot of traction there, so round I went! We

appreciate you coming to talk to us. We don't just invite people on

to highlight a mistake! We will see you through the year. Cheers. Is it

all about Mercedes this weekend? It is not all about Mercedes, it's

about whether Ferrari can take a challenge to them. And the Mercedes

drivers, along with Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, that is where the

assignment will be. It's going to be on the red button, free practice

two, and that will be replayed tomorrow morning as well. From the

blazing sunshine in the paddock here in Abu Dhabi, the next time you see

us it will be Twilight. It is a twilight race. KERS is the