Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix 2013: Results, Times for Practice and Qualifying
Sebastian Vettel may have already been crowned world champion for a fourth consecutive year, but there's still the matter of three remaining races to contest.
The next stop is Abu Dhabi, hosting its fifth Formula 1 event. Vettel has taken two of the previous four races, with Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen also taking the champagne.
Having won the championship in style, Vettel can achieve further history by winning what would be his seventh straight race, a feat only achieved by two drivers, according to F1 Complete.
Elsewhere, second place is still up for grabs between Raikkonen, Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber.
Practice sessions for the race take place on Friday and Saturday ahead of qualifying, with the race set for Sunday.
Bleacher Report Race Weekend Essentials
Your comprehensive Abu Dhabi GP preview by Neil James.
Latest rumours including the respective futures of Nico Hulkenberg and Ross Brawn, by Fraser Masefield.
Looking at the race weekend odds, again by Fraser Masefield.
Q3: Mark Webber Throws a Spanner in the Works
1 of 6
Mark Webber has beaten Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel to pole position for tomorrow's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, despite a late surge from the German on his final lap.
In the end, however, it was Webber's time of 1:39.957 that proved sufficient to pip Vettel to top spot in time for Sunday's examination.
A breakdown of the top 9 via Autosport:
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Gap |
| 1 | Mark Webber | Red Bull | 1:39.957 | |
| 2 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull | 1:40.075 | +0.118s |
| 3 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1:40.419 | +0.462s |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:40.501 | +0.544s |
| 5 | Kimi Raikkonen | Lotus-Renault | 1:40.542 | +0.585s |
| 6 | Niko Hulkenberg | Sauber-Ferrari | 1:40.596 | +0.619s |
| 7 | Romain Grosjean | Lotus-Renault | 1:40.997 | +1.040s |
| 8 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1:41.015 | +1.058s |
| 9 | Sergio Perez | McLaren Mercedes | 1:41.068 | +1.111s |
Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton spun on his final lap and commented that there was an issue at the rear of his car, per BBC Sport.
Despite that hiccup, the Briton starts at fourth and will look to snatch a podium finish for the first time since August of this year.
Beating Vettel by just a tenth, there's not a lot separating Webber and his teammate on tomorrow's grid, but it's a distance that could prove vital for the manufacturers' team on this occasion.
Q2: Fernando Alonso Fails to Reach Q3
2 of 6
After a scary Q1 stage, Fernando Alonso does fail to qualify at the second time of asking today and is one of the six names who won't be going to Q3.
Along with the Spaniard is Jenson Button, Paul Di Resta, Pastor Maldonado, Valtteri Bottas and Jean-Eric Vergne, all of whom drop out.
Nico Rosberg was the fastest qualifier at the second qualifying stage and was followed up by Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber.
This is the first time this season that Alonso has failed to make it to Q3
Q1: Lewis Hamilton Comes out on Top of First Qualifying
3 of 6
Lewis Hamilton benefitted from some track help as his soft tyres eventually prospered in the Abu Dhabi conditions.
The 28-year-old was struggling as he came into his finish but delivered a sensational lap at the tail end of his opening qualifier to lead by more than half a second.
Both Ferraris survived a brief scare as Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa managed to get out of the drop zone and move on to the next phase.
Adrian Sutil, Esteban Gutierrez, Giedo van der Garde, Charles Pic, Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton all fail to make it through to Q2.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
FP3: Vettel Top Again
4 of 6
Sebastian Vettel was the quickest of the field ahead of qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The German rose to the top of the timesheets late in the session as the drivers switched to the option tyres.
Vettel was also quick on the harder tyres, with he and Kimi Raikkonen, last year's winner here at Yas Marina, also competing well.
Raikkonen ended up down in ninth on the timesheets, however, with Mark Webber rising to second in a 1-2 for Red Bull.
The Mercedes duo were the next quickest, with Romain Grosjean fifth in the Lotus.
Here are the timesheets, as given by Scuderia Ferrari (and also available on Autosport):
"#ABUGP Classifica #FP3 - - #FP3 Time Sheets pic.twitter.com/GDJDbKH9dG
— Scuderia Ferrari (@InsideFerrari) November 2, 2013"
FP2: Red Bull Secure a 1-2
5 of 6
After Romain Grosjean's quick start, Sebastian Vettel produced a typically dominant performance at Free Practice 2, finishing ahead of the field.
Red Bull, Lotus and Mercedes again claimed the five quickest laps, with Vettel and Mark Webber ensuring another impressive day for Red Bull.
"Normal service is resumed as Sebastian Vettel leads Webber and Hamilton at the top of the FP2 timesheets. http://t.co/aABSK5Gx6S #skyf1
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) November 1, 2013"
This has been a regular pattern at Free Practice 2, with Vettel quickest in India, Japan, Singapore, Italy Belgium, Hungary and Germany at this stage—eight of the last nine races, per Formula1.com.
Ferrari would have held high hopes of success on this track, having pushed Kimi Raikkonen during last year's race.
However, both Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa again struggled to find speed, finishing eighth and tenth, respectively.
Here's how they finished Free Practice 2, with results via ESPN F1.
| Driver | Constructor | Time | |
| 1 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull | 1'41.335 |
| 2 | Mark Webber (AUS) | Red Bull | 1'41.490 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton (GBR) | Mercedes | 1'41.690 |
| 4 | Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) | Lotus | 1'41.726 |
| 5 | Nico Rosberg (GER) | Mercedes | 1'41.758 |
| 6 | Sergio Perez (MEX) | McLaren | 1'42.006 |
| 7 | Jenson Button (GBR) | McLaren | 1'42.010 |
| 8 | Fernando Alonso (ESP) | Ferrari | 1'42.171 |
| 9 | Nico Hulkenberg (GER) | Sauber | 1'42.324 |
| 10 | Felipe Massa (BRA) | Ferrari | 1'42.440 |
FP1: Grosjean Quickest off the Mark
6 of 6
Romain Grosjean was quickest through Free Practice 1, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel in third, as recorded by ESPN F1.
It was the first time the Frenchman has finished a Free Practice session with the fastest lap, as he continued his improving form.
"In-form Romain Grosjean and Yas Marina specialist Lewis Hamilton ensure a less predictable start to Abu Dhabi http://t.co/sfeTflFtMD #skyf1
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) November 1, 2013"
Lotus, Mercedes and Red Bull occupied the top six spots and were separated by just under seven-hundredths of a second in a close opening session.
Here's how they officially clocked in for Free Practice 1, with results via ESPN F1.
| Driver | Constructor | Time | |
| 1 | Romain Grosjean (FRA) | Lotus | 1'44.241 |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton (GBR) | Mercedes | 1'44.433 |
| 3 | Sebastian Vettel (GER) | Red Bull | 1'44.499 |
| 4 | Mark Webber (AUS) | Red Bull | 1'44.712 |
| 5 | Nico Rosberg (GER) | Mercedes | 1'44.741 |
| 6 | Kimi Räikkönen (FIN) | Lotus | 1'44.929 |
| 7 | Paul di Resta (GBR) | Force India | 1'45.040 |
| 8 | Jenson Button (GBR) | McLaren | 1'45.099 |
| 9 | Pastor Maldonado (VEN) | Williams | 1'45.150 |
| 10 | Sergio Perez (MEX) | McLaren | 1'45.331 |
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
