Sebastian Vettel ends tyre test fastest for Ferrari in Abu Dhabi to bring an end to F1 running for 2017
- Sebastian Vettel set the fastest time over the two day tyre test in Abu Dhabi
- Ferrari driver was nearly a second faster than Valtteri Bottas in the Mercedes
- McLaren ran Honda engines for final time with British rookie Lando Norris
- READ: All the latest F1 news, features and points tables
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel topped the time sheets on the final day of tyre testing at the Yas Marina circuit, bringing an end to on track running in 2017.
The post Abu Dhabi Grand Prix test was to evaluate the Pirelli tyres coming into use for 2018 including the new pink branded hypersoft tyre - which will be the softest of the compounds set to be used.
Vettel had stopped on the track to bring out the red flags before resuming running and set a time of 1:37.551 on the hypersofts in the morning.
Sebastian Vettel was fastest was Ferrari on the final day of F1 running in 2017
Valtteri Bottas was second for Mercedes nearly a second off the pace while Max Verstappen was third fastest for Red Bull.
All eyes were on Williams once again where Robert Kubica and Sergey Sirotkin indirectly faced off to strengthen their claims of replacing the retired Felipe Massa at the team for next season.
The Pole proved quicker but only because he ran the hypersoft compound as opposed to Sirotkin who was half-a-second down on the former F1 driver's time by half-a-second on the soft tyre.
McLaren ran two cars on the final day, with British rookie Lando Norris conducting development work for Pirelli to end up 12th quickest, in a programme used to make up time for the cancelled Interlagos test in Brazil.
POS | DRIVER | CAR | TIME | GAP | LAPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | 1m37.551s | - | 118 |
2 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes | 1m38.490s | 0.939s | 141 |
3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1m38.736s | 1.185s | 132 |
4 | Sergio Perez | Force India | 1m38.818s | 1.267s | 52 |
5 | Esteban Ocon | Force India | 1m39.148s | 1.597s | 72 |
6 | Carlos Sainz | Renault | 1m39.444s | 1.893s | 109 |
7 | Robert Kubica | Williams | 1m39.485s | 1.934s | 28 |
8 | Stoffel Vandoorne | McLaren | 1m39.782s | 2.231s | 105 |
9 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 1m39.810s | 2.259s | 124 |
10 | Sergey Sirotkin | Williams | 1m39.947s | 2.396s | 86 |
11 | Charles Leclerc | Sauber | 1m40.666s | 3.115s | 149 |
12 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1m41.714s | 4.163s | 118 |
13 | Brendon Hartley | Toro Rosso | 1m43.345s | 5.794s | 61 |
14 | Pierre Gasly | Toro Rosso | 1m44.827s | 7.276s | 63 |
Britain's Lando Norris did tyre development work for McLaren at Yas Marina
Stoffel Vandoorne was in the other McLaren - running under Honda power for the final time before a switch to Renault in 2018 - and ended the day 2.2 seconds down on Vettel's time in eighth.
F2 champion Charles Leclerc was 11th for Sauber, the team he will likely drive for next season, on a day it was confirmed the Swiss outfit would team up with Alfa Romeo for 2018.
The two Toro Rossos of Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly brought up the rear of the field.
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