Mercedes driver George Russell set the pace during Friday afternoon’s first free practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, consistently leading the way in a session that many regular racers sat out to give rookies valuable time at the wheel.

As part of the regulations requiring teams to give ‘rookie’ drivers – defined as those who have contested no more than two Grands Prix – two FP1 runs over the course of the campaign, all outfits bar AlphaTauri left it until this weekend’s action at Yas Marina Circuit to tick the boxes.

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Moreover, and rather unusually, both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez vacated their RB19s this time out, with Formula E title holder and Red Bull simulator driver Jake Dennis getting his first F1 weekend outing, alongside F2 racer Isack Hadjar, who appeared for AlphaTauri in Mexico.

There was also another practice opportunity for F2 rookie Oliver Bearman at Haas, alongside F2 championship leader Theo Pourchaire at Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin reserve Felipe Drugovich and Williams-affiliated F3 championship runner-up Zak O’Sullivan.

Given the mixture of experience levels throughout the field, a host of different run plans were in play during the 60 minutes of running, with the steady flow of lap time improvements matched by lock-ups, slides and off-track excursions as drivers built up confidence.