21/11/2014
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's second practice session the air temperature is 26 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 33 degrees.
There are two DRS zones. The detection point for the first is 40m before T7 with activation 390m after T7, whilst the second detection point is 50m after T9 with activation at T10.
Tyres available this weekend are soft and supersoft, the options scheduled to make their first appearance here this afternoon.
Lewis Hamilton was quickest this morning, the Briton out-pacing his teammate, and title rival, Nico Rosberg by 0.133.
A bodywork issue meant the Williams duo was side-lined for much of the session, though Bottas, who lost almost all of his right sidepod on track, still managed to finish eighth quickest.
Fernando Alonso was third quickest, albeit 1.708s off the pace, just ahead of the two Red Bulls.
While the track was very slippery and there were numerous 'excursions', there were no serious incidents.
In some ways, due to its early timing, this morning's session was somewhat irrelevant, this afternoon's session, which gets underway at the same time as Sunday's race, and when it is much cooler, should give us a better idea of what's what.
Having handed their cars over to Adderly Fong and Esteban Ocon this morning, this afternoon Adrian Sutil and Romain Grosjean are back in their cars.
Kudos to Ocon who was only 0.355s off teammate Maldonado's pace.
Talking of Grosjean, the Frenchman takes a 20-place grid penalty after his team opted to change the Internal Combustion Engine, Turbocharger, MGU-H and Control Electronics PSU on his car.
The lights go green and Sutil is first out of the stalls, followed by Stevens who got minimal running this morning due to a technical issue with his Caterham. Grosjean is another early riser.
Sutil opens his Abu Dhabi account with a 47.412 but wrecks his next lap by locking up and running wide in T1.
No sooner has Magnussen posted 45.720 than Vergne bangs in a 45.697. However, this eclipsed by Hulkenberg and then Massa (45.055).
More problems for Button, as McLaren reports: "An update on Jenson - he had a suspension issue in FP1, which was resolved. We then discovered a separate hydraulic issue. The mechanics are working flat-out to get him out during FP2 - but the car won't be ready at the start of the session."
Meanwhile, teammate Magnussen goes quickest with a 44.895.
On his first flying lap Rosberg goes straight to the head of the class with a 43.024. Vettel goes second with a 44.478.
As Hamilton posts 43.677 to go second, a big lock-up for Sutil at T8. He performs a spin turn to get going again and then reports a brake disc failure. He is told to "box".
Alonso stops on track just before T20 and climbs from his car. There is smoke rising from the back of the car but it is unclear what type of smoke. Onboard footage appears to suggest no power.
Kvyat goes fourth (44.584), thereby splitting the Red Bull duo.
On his first flying lap Bottas goes third (44.366), albeit 1.3s off Rosberg's pace.
Twenty-five minutes into the session, Kobayashi is the first driver to fit a set of options. The Japanese is currently 17th (46.662). He improves to 15th with a 45.808.
Vergne, Maldonado and Gutierrez also switch to the softer rubber.
On the half-hour, Button is in his car and looking good to go.
Vergne (45.261) improves to 44.413 on the softer rubber, like Kobayashi around 0.8s quicker.
Maldonado (options) goes third (44.005) as Vettel (Options) is told to work on his front tyres. Elsewhere, Kobayashi improves to 45.505, so the options are good for a couple of hot laps.
A 43.546 sees Kvyat go second but almost immediately the Russian is demoted when Ricciardo posts 43.422.
Hamilton heads out on a set of options as Vettel goes quickest (42.959).
Hamilton asks if the option is a "one lap tyre". He is told that Vergne has improved (twice) and that the tyre is good for three laps.
"For some reason I have absolutely no rear grip," complains Vettel.
Now on the softer rubber, Rosberg goes quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 42.303. Moments later Hamilton responds with a 42.159, 0.144s quicker.
At 'half-time', it's: Hamilton, Rosberg, Magnussen, Vettel, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Perez, Maldonado, Hulkenberg and Bottas.
"Rear under rotation, rear under rotation under braking," Button advises.
Hamilton and Rosberg both improve, the German closing to within 0.083s of his teammate. Third-placed Magnussen is 0.782s off Hamilton's pace.
Alonso's car arrives back at the Ferrari garage.
With half-an-hour remaining, attention switches to longer runs on heavy fuel on the option tyres on which most will probably start the race.
Grosjean, facing that grid penalty, and currently 17th, runs wide in T17, having previously gone wide at T1. Teammate Maldonado is currently 12th.
Button, finally on the options, goes 8th with a 43.503.
Kvyat complains of right-front graining.
"Something's not right with the left-hand side of my brake pedal," complains Button.
A big lock-up for Ricciardo ahead of a pit stop for tyre switch and adjustment to his front wing.
Perez told that there are no issues with his (prime) rears. "You can push the rears as hard as you like," he is advised.
After an eight-lap stint on options Hamilton reports that they felt good. Nice to hear from a happy driver for a change. He is told that he is in a "unique position" as others are experiencing rear degradation. On the other hand some drivers are concerned at front degradation.
The clock counts down, thus far Vergne has completed the most laps (35), ahead of Kobayashi, Gutierrez and Kvyat (34). Rosberg has completed 33 and Hamilton 31.
The session ends with Hamilton ahead of Rosberg, Magnussen, Vettel, Bottas, Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Button, Kvyat and Massa.
Perez is eleventh, ahead of Maldonado, Hulkenberg, Vergne, Gutierrez, Sutil, Grosjean, Kobayashi, Stevens and Alonso, who failed to post a time.
Check out our Friday gallery, here.