Come da copione Lewis Hamilton e Nico Rosberg, primo e secondo della generale e compagni di scuderia alla Mercedes, hanno già iniziato a dare spettacolo nelle libere sul circuito di Yas Marina. Il britannico è stato il più veloce in entrambe le sessioni, mentre il tedesco si è dovuto accontentare della seconda piazza. Il miglior tempo, ottenuto con gli pneumatici supersoft, è stato di 1'42"113, di 0"083 più rapido rispetto a quello del rivale.
Il messicano Esteban Gutierrez e il tedesco Adrian Sutil, della Sauber, hanno chiuso le prove con il 15o e il 16o tempo. Il cinese Adderly Fong, al volante della monoposto elvetica al mattino, non è andato oltre la 19a piazza (su 20 partecipanti).
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