
Russell fastest in training with 10 rookies
George Russel set the fastest time in the first F1 practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which saw both Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton leave their cars to rookies. The teams used the first training session to meet the mandatory rookie quota, so we saw as many as ten young racers on the track. Russell thus set the fastest practice time, and Felipe Drugovich came closest to his lap time behind the wheel of Alonso's Aston Martin. Daniel Ricciardo was the third fastest racer, and the Australian was testing the innovations on the Alpha Tauri racing car, while Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll also entered the top five times.