Hadjar tops the time sheets in the final practice ahead of championship leader Bortoleto

The final practice session of the season saw Isack Hadjar go fastest ahead of his championship rival Gabriel Bortoleto.

Hadjar finished two-tenths of a second clear of the Brazilian with a time of 1:37.817 in the Campos Racing car with Victor Martins claiming P3 on the timesheet for ART.

The times were competitive in the first half hour with Joshua Duerksen setting the pace for practice early on. Paul Aron, who is P3 in the championship going into the last weekend, joined the party alongside Josep (Pepe) Marti of Campos Racing putting impressive lap times in the 1.38s before Duerksen retook the top spot, three tenths ahead of Marti with a 1:38.515.

Richard Verschoor was being investigated at the end of the session following an impeding incident with Paul Aron, however the MP Motorsport driver has been handed a warning and no further punishment.

Red flags were brought out in the latter stages of practice when Cian Shields collided with the barriers at Turn 14, ending his session early. AIX Racing mechanics were left to try and mend the car before qualifying after the right front suspension suffered the blow. 

Practice resumed at Yas Marina with nine minutes to go, all drivers were ready to make the most of the session ahead of qualifying. 

Despite great laps from the championship leader Bortoleto, Aron, Marti, and Antonelli later on, it was Campos' Isack Hadjar that came out on top when the chequered flag was waved.

The remaining championship contenders all placed in the top four at the end of practice with Aron in the Hitech Pulse-Eight settling for fourth behind Martins.

Hadjar returns to the F1 grid for FP1 in Abu Dhabi this afternoon as well as Luke Browning who will be making his Formula 1 debut for Williams. F2 2022 champion Felipe Drugovich will also be in action for the second time this season in Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin.

Formula 2 qualifying action will take place for the final time this season at 15:00 local time and it is all to play for with the champioinship being decided this weekend.
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F2 Practice Top 10 
1. Isack Hadjar
2. Gabriel Bortoleto
3. Victor Martins
4. Paul Aron
5. Joshua Duerksen
6. Ritomo Miyata
7. Richard Verschoor
8. Josep "Pepe" Marti
9. Andrea "Kimi" Antonelli
10. Kush Maini

Katie Shepherd
Writer - F1 Journal