FP2: Leclerc sets benchmark in second practice as Sainz and Hulkenberg crash out

F1 Grand Prix, GP Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina Circuit

Having handed over his car to reserve driver in the opening practice, Ferrari regular driver Charles Leclerc set the benchmark time in the second practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The opening practice took place in unusual circumstances. The known factor was the weather conditions as the first and third practice session usually take place in Abu Dhabi in conditions that are not totally representative to what drivers experience in qualifying and the grand prix itself.

Secondly, with teams required to run rookie drivers - a racer who has completed no more than two grands prix - during the season, ten regular race drivers were forced to sit out the opening one-hour session at the Yas Marina circuit.

Charles Leclerc was one of the drivers who missed the first outing this weekend, as he handed over his SF23 to reserve driver Robert Shwartzman. The Monégasque quickly got up to speed as he set the benchmark of the session, clocking a 1m24.809s.

His team-mate Carlos Sainz, however, endured a difficult session after crashing his Ferrari into the barriers at Turn 3. The Madrid-born driver lost control of his car, and caused damage not only to his car, but also to the barriers, which required a lengthy repair job.

Following a difficult weekend at the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, McLaren appeared to have regained their speed. Lando Norris finished only a fraction behind Leclerc in P2 while his Australian team-mate Oscar Piastri took tenth for the Woking-based outfit.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez both sat out the opening 60-minute practice, but they were in good shape when they climbed into the RB19 for the first time this weekend. The freshly-crown three-time world champion ended up third fastest, just under two tenths of a second behind Leclerc. His team-mate Sergio Perez, who secured second place in the Drivers' Championship in Las Vegas a week ago, was fifth.

Mercedes had a better opening day than at Las Vegas. George Russell topped the opening session and ended the second one-hour practice in P6, only three tenths of a second off Leclerc's benchmark. His team-mate Lewis Hamilton sat out the first session, and took 8th in the second outing, two tenths of a second behind his team-mate.

Following Sainz' accident, drivers were earger to hit the track to gather data on the track in cooler temperatures. However, the session was red-flagged again as Haas racer Nico Hulkenberg span into the barrier at the exit of Turn 1 as he set off on his flying lap.