Yas Marina (United Arab Emirates) (AFP)

The penalty that awaits him on the grid Sunday has not slowed, on the contrary: Valtteri Bottas has prepared for a wild comeback at the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix by dominating free practice on Friday.

Indeed, whatever happens in qualifying on Saturday, the Finn of Mercedes will start at the back of the pack because of a change of engine beyond the authorized quota per season, following a breakdown suffered during the race. last GP in Brazil.

Already the fastest of the first session in 1 min 36 sec 957/1000, Bottas increased his time to 1 min 36 sec 256/1000 in the second, the only time played at dusk, in the conditions of the + qual + and the race.

"Things look positive but you have to be careful on Friday because they are only tests and a lot of teams are making big progress on Saturday," he says. "The important thing for me is to try to find a good race rhythm (...) because that's where everything will be played out."

In addition to his time, the vice-champion of the Finnish world can be reassured by the fact that the circuit of Yas Marina succeeds particularly to his team: since 2014, the Silver Arrows have offered all poles positions and all victories.

Sunday, he will try to imitate Sebastian Vettel, third in 2012 with Red Bull having left the pit lane, a gain of 21 places!

In Abu Dhabi, however, the German is an exception: all the drivers to finish on the podium of the ten editions are from the first three lines.

Worse, with five winners since pole and four since second place on the grid, to start in the front row is a major asset in the last GP of the season.

Only Kimi Räikkönen of Finland, then at Lotus, won further in 2012, from fourth place.

- Hamilton on a circuit that succeeds him -

At the end of free practice 2, Bottas beat his British teammate Lewis Hamilton of 310/1000. Driver to the best statistics on this route, with seven podiums including four successes and four poles, the now six-time world champion is a favorite.

Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), fourth, points to 386/1000. His teammate Vettel, who has just become a father for the third time, is fifth at 435/1000, ahead of Dutch Red Bull Max Verstappen at 551/1000 and Thai Alexander Albon at 1 sec 32/1000.

It remains to be seen if Leclerc has the means to take back the third place of the drivers classification in Verstappen, on which he accuses eleven points behind. A total amount to catch up in one race ...

Behind them, the tightest fight is that for the sixth position, with the French Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso) and the Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr (McLaren) tied with 95 points, followed by Albon with 84 units.

Among the constructors, the first four places are acquired at Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren, but only eight points separate Renault, fifth, Toro Rosso, sixth, and Alfa Romeo, eighth, is only ten lengths of Racing Point, seventh.

But higher is the position of a stable in the championship, more important is the share of the commercial income generated by the F1 which is redistributed to him.

Appointment is Saturday at 14:00 local (11:00 French / 10:00 GMT) for free practice 3 and 17:00 (14:00 / 13:00) for qualifying. For German Nico Hülkenberg (Renault) and Robert Kubica (Williams) of Poland, without flying next year, it could be the last in F1.

© 2019 AFP