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Reuters
Reuters
Sport

Hamilton fastest in final practice of 2018 F1 season

Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - November 24, 2018 Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton during practice REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Five-times world champion Lewis Hamilton was fastest for Mercedes in the final practice session of the Formula One season in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

The Briton, who clinched the title in Mexico with two races to spare, lapped the Yas Marina circuit with a best time of one minute 37.176 seconds.

Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion preparing for his last race with Ferrari before joining Sauber, was second fastest and 0.288 slower than Hamilton with four-times champion team mate Sebastian Vettel third.

Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - November 24, 2018 Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel during practice REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

The Finn was summoned to the stewards, however, after an incident at the pitlane entry where he slowed and then returned to the track.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen was fourth on the timesheets, with Hamilton's Finnish team mate Valtteri Bottas -- last year's race winner from pole position -- only fifth after going fastest on Friday.

Bottas has yet to win this season, while Hamilton will be chasing his 11th of the campaign on Sunday. Mercedes have already won the constructors' title for the fifth year in a row.

Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - November 24, 2018 McLaren's Fernando Alonso during practice REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Australian Daniel Ricciardo, in his last race for Red Bull before joining Renault, was sixth fastest but stopped on track with minutes remaining.

"I think realistically we are looking at fifth and sixth (in qualifying), unless something sensational happens," said Red Bull principal Christian Horner, who felt Ricciardo's problem could just be a sensor issue.

Toro Rosso's Pierre Gasly gesticulated angrily at Haas's Romain Grosjean after an on-track clash between the two Frenchmen.

Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - November 24, 2018 Red Bull's Max Verstappen during practice REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Gasly and Grosjean were also summoned to the stewards.

(Writing by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Clare Fallon)

Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - November 24, 2018 Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas during practice REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - November 24, 2018 Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen during practice REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
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