Hamilton fastest in Abu Dhabi practice

Abu Dhabi : Four times world champion Lewis Hamilton kept Mercedes on top in the last Friday practice of the Formula One season with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel close behind.

Hamilton, chasing a 10th win of the year after wrapping up the championship in Mexico last month, lapped the floodlit Yas Marina circuit in one minute 37.877 seconds in the evening session.

“It’s been a good Friday, but I‘m happy that it’s the last one of the season,” said Hamilton.

“We got lots of laps in today and made good progress with the balance of the car. We have a bit of work to do, but I feel like we’re quite competitive here. It’s relatively close still, but I like that.”

Vettel, who had set the pace in the afternoon with a lap of 1:39.006 and looked quick on long run pace, ended the day 0.149 slower and also expected a close battle in Saturday’s qualifying.

The German is set to become the first non-Mercedes driver of the last four years to finish in the top two of the championship, leading Valtteri Bottas by 22 points into the final round.

Both Hamilton and Vettel, a quadruple world champion with Red Bull, are three-time winners in Abu Dhabi although Ferrari have yet to triumph there.

Red Bull were third in both sessions, with 20-year-old Dutch driver Max Verstappen taking that place in the first and Australian Daniel Ricciardo in the second.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and Mercedes’ Bottas were fourth and fifth.